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6/24/2025, 12:37:24 PM
New AI-Guided Iranian Shahed-136 Variant With "Machine Vision" Appears In Ukraine
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A new, more advanced variant of the Iranian-designed Shahed-136 loitering munition has been identified in Ukraine, signaling a significant evolution in the capabilities of these widely used one-way attack drones. Wreckage of the new drone, designated the "MS" series, reveals the integration of an electro-optical camera and an onboard AI processing module for terminal guidance.
Analysis of the downed drone, bearing the marking "MS001," shows a distinct hardware configuration compared to the earlier "M" series Shaheds and their Russian-built "Geran-2" counterparts. The most critical upgrades include:
Terminal Guidance System: The new variant is equipped with a forward-facing camera linked to a powerful Nvidia Jetson processing module. This "machine vision" system allows the drone to visually identify and home in on a target in the final phase of its attack, similar to the seeker head on a guided missile. This capability makes the drone far more resilient to GPS jamming, which has been a primary countermeasure against earlier versions that relied solely on satellite navigation.
Upgraded CRPA Antenna: The drone features a new Iranian-made four-element Controlled Reception Pattern Antenna (CRPA). This advanced antenna is designed to better filter out electronic warfare (EW) signals attempting to disrupt its satellite navigation receivers during the cruise phase of its flight.
Core Components: Aside from these key upgrades, the core airframe, the MD-550 piston engine, and the warhead appear to be unchanged from previous Shahed-136 models.
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A new, more advanced variant of the Iranian-designed Shahed-136 loitering munition has been identified in Ukraine, signaling a significant evolution in the capabilities of these widely used one-way attack drones. Wreckage of the new drone, designated the "MS" series, reveals the integration of an electro-optical camera and an onboard AI processing module for terminal guidance.
Analysis of the downed drone, bearing the marking "MS001," shows a distinct hardware configuration compared to the earlier "M" series Shaheds and their Russian-built "Geran-2" counterparts. The most critical upgrades include:
Terminal Guidance System: The new variant is equipped with a forward-facing camera linked to a powerful Nvidia Jetson processing module. This "machine vision" system allows the drone to visually identify and home in on a target in the final phase of its attack, similar to the seeker head on a guided missile. This capability makes the drone far more resilient to GPS jamming, which has been a primary countermeasure against earlier versions that relied solely on satellite navigation.
Upgraded CRPA Antenna: The drone features a new Iranian-made four-element Controlled Reception Pattern Antenna (CRPA). This advanced antenna is designed to better filter out electronic warfare (EW) signals attempting to disrupt its satellite navigation receivers during the cruise phase of its flight.
Core Components: Aside from these key upgrades, the core airframe, the MD-550 piston engine, and the warhead appear to be unchanged from previous Shahed-136 models.
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