Russia Develops Front-Line Mini-Shahed Drone Called Tyuvik

Russia has developed a compact version of the Shahed (Geran) kamikaze drone for use near the front lines, according to the Russian defense-focused Telegram channel AeroKot.

The new drone, dubbed Tyuvik (named after a small bird of of prey — Levant sparrowhawk) is developed by the Stratim design bureau.

It is reportedly equipped with onboard systems powered by artificial intelligence algorithms that help it resist electronic warfare.

According to open sources, Tyuvik is believed to use visual navigation: the onboard computer matches images from its optical module with a preloaded digital terrain map, allowing it to operate even in GPS-denied environments.

It is noted that the drone has already been tested in a combat zone and launched into mass production.

The drone has a flight range of up to 30 kilometers, a flight time of around 25 minutes, and a maximum speed of 180 km/h.

It carries a payload of approximately two kilograms and is launched via catapult. Developers claim the system has already been tested in combat and entered mass production.

Interception of Russian drones

Ukraine’s armed forces have deployed the Sting interceptor drone to counter Russian-Iranian Shahed-type drones.

A recently released video showed the Sting drone, equipped with a thermal imaging camera, striking a Shahed at high altitude, reportedly above the cloud layer.

The footage clearly identifies the downed drone as a Shahed 136 — not a decoy like Gerbera drones — based on distinctive features such as wingtip shape and the presence of Pitot tubes on each wing.