**Russia’s New AI Kamikaze Drone: A Game-Changer in Ukraine Conflict**
In a significant development, Russia has unveiled a new autonomous drone, the V2U, which can navigate and attack without any human operator. This sophisticated small attack UAV is approximately 1.2 meters long, electrically-powered, and propeller-driven. It’s equipped with a 2.9-kg shaped-charge warhead that can wreak havoc on Ukrainian vehicles and systems.
The V2U has been spotted along the 1,100-km front line in Ukraine this spring, and recovering crashed examples have allowed analysts to identify its components, including those from Chinese, Japanese, and American manufacturers. This autonomy makes the V2U essentially impossible to jam, similar to smaller fiber-optic first-person-view attack drones.
**Unstoppable Autonomy**
Experts believe that autonomy is the future of drone warfare, and Russia’s V2U is a major leap in this direction. “Autonomy is the inevitable pathway drone warfare will follow,” said Roy, a Canadian drone expert. With the V2U, Russia has pulled ahead of Ukraine in the critical field of drone autonomy.
The V2U uses satellite positioning from American GPS and Russian GLONASS constellations, but also has a backup navigation system that allows it to fly terrain-following capabilities even when GPS/GLONASS is jammed. This includes a 100-GB solid-state drive on a video support board combined with a laser range finder.
**Implications for Ukraine**
The V2U’s ability to scan for targets matching pre-loaded images of valuable Ukrainian vehicles and systems makes it an effective tool in the conflict. “The V2U would be effective against a range of valuable targets,” Roy warned. This proliferation is a worrying sign that Russia’s drone industry can still innovate and adapt, despite sanctions.
**Ukraine Must Not Be Left Behind**
As Ukraine faces this new challenge from Russia, experts emphasize that it must not let the Russians lead in the critical capability of autonomy. The Ukrainian armed forces have their own autonomous, AI-assisted attack drones, but the V2U may be the best of its kind. “Ukraine must not let the Russians lead this race,” Roy stated.
The V2U’s development and proliferation raise concerns about the future of drone warfare in Ukraine. As the conflict escalates, it’s clear that Russia is committed to staying ahead in this critical area. Will Ukraine be able to keep up?
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