Russia Unveils New Smartphone-Controlled Drone Equipped with Chinese Technology, According to Ukraine's Intelligence Reports
New Russian Drone Equipped with LTE Modems: A Closer Look
Russia has introduced a new drone model, named by the Ukrainian Intelligence Directorate as HUR. According to a recent publication by the Ukrainian Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR), the drone's specifications and components have been revealed.
The drone, resembling the Shahed-131 with a delta-wing fuselage, is somewhat smaller. It is equipped with a camera and two LTE modems for real-time or recorded video transmission, making it unique among drones currently in use.
The drone's design and components reveal Russia's dependence on imported parts, despite international sanctions. Almost half of the drone's components are of Chinese origin, including the flight controller with autopilot, navigation modules, antennas, airspeed sensor, and Pitot tube.
The main Chinese company supplying parts and modules for the new Russian drone, the Garpiya-A1, used by the Russian army, is CUAV Tech Inc. based in Guangzhou. Components are then delivered via companies including Beijing Xichao International Technology & Trade Co. Ltd. to the Russian manufacturer IEMZ Kupol in Ischewsk.
The drone performs reconnaissance tasks and is used as a decoy to overload the Ukrainian air defense system. Unlike standard control channels, the LTE modems rely on civilian mobile infrastructure, making them harder to jam with electronic warfare. This demonstrates how Russia is adapting civilian technologies for military purposes, making signal interception more difficult.
The drone's use of LTE modems allows it to operate via the 4G LTE mobile network. This, along with its jam-resistant satellite positioning system with four patch antennas and Chinese Allystar modules, enables navigation and remote flight correction via commands.
Reports suggest that the drone is capable of carrying a warhead weighing up to 15 kg (33 lbs). In the strike version, the drone's camera can be used in FPV mode, allowing the operator to guide the drone directly to the target.
The new Russian drone, currently actively used by the Russian military, is another example of Russia's reliance on imported components. The article's source is the Ukrainian Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR), and the specifications and image of the drone were published on the War&Sanctions portal in the section "Components in Weapons."
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