A Russian Shahed kamikaze drone shot down in Ukraine has been found to be armed with a wooden block instead of a warhead, raising questions about its purpose. Ukrainian personnel have recovered the remains of the drone, which contained a wooden block rather than an explosive payload. This raises new questions about the vehicle’s possible mission and Russia’s tactical approach.
The UAV's Unusual Structure and Advanced Equipment
The examination of the remains of the drone was notable for the absence of an explosive charge. However, it was noted that the vehicle had advanced navigation equipment. Electronics expert Serhiy Beskrestnov stated that the UAV was fitted with a newly developed 16-element antenna. It was suggested that these antennas were designed to counter Ukraine's electronic warfare systems. Beskrestnov emphasized that these antennas were effective in jamming or deceiving navigation signals, and that the vehicle was intended to collect data on how to deal with electronic countermeasures in Ukrainian airspace.
Wooden Block Instead of Warhead: Reconnaissance and System Evaluation
According to Beskrestnov's statements, the wooden block on the Shahed kamikaze UAV may have been used to reduce the weight of the warhead. In this way, the flight time may have been extended, and the flight in Ukrainian airspace may have been aimed at testing the performance of the new antenna. In other words, this indicates that it was used for testing the vehicle's electronic and avionics systems rather than for attacks with explosive warheads.
Russia’s Strategy for Using a Live Test Environment
Such changes could be part of Russia’s efforts to use its drones more broadly for hardware testing. In the past, Russia has used the battlefield as a testbed for developing military technology. While the Shahed series of drones has become a key tool for long-range strikes, such modifications could be aimed at improving their survivability against air defenses and electronic warfare devices.
New Tactics Towards Ukraine
Russia’s Shahed UAV strikes and recent modifications suggest that Russia’s drones are evolving to improve their capabilities and implement new tactics. Such changes may be aimed not only at reconnaissance and data collection, but also at strengthening Russia’s electronic warfare capabilities.
