Russian engineers have begun installing an additional camera on reconnaissance drones to detect Ukrainian interceptor drones and automatically evade attacks.

The details were revealed by radio technology expert Serhii Flash.

Among the debris of a downed Russian reconnaissance drone, the Zala Z16, an additional optical module was found, positioned on the top of the fuselage, designed to detect interceptor drones. When such drones appear, the reconnaissance drone automatically executes a programmed maneuvering algorithm to avoid the strike.

Militarnyi first reported on the unusual activity of Russian reconnaissance drones back in October last year, but only now there has been final confirmation of the new technology appearing on Russian UAVs.

The technology is based on “machine vision,” enabling optical detection and the automatic selection of a maneuver for evasive action.

“The developers assume that the Zala will execute sharp evasive maneuvers until the battery of our anti-aircraft FPV is depleted,” states Serhii. “A certain percentage of drones may be saved by this system. Its effectiveness largely depends on factors such as weather conditions, the remaining battery life of the drone, and the number of drones targeting a single object. At this stage, accurately assessing its efficiency is not possible.”

According to the expert, a logical progression of the technology in warfare would be the integration of automatic algorithms based on “machine vision” into Ukrainian interceptor drones, which would take into account the potential maneuvers of the target and ensure a higher hit probability.

The idea of automating interception with guidance systems may prove necessary also because, until recently, Russian developers were experimenting with installing electronic warfare systems on UAVs to disrupt the communication of interceptor drones during their approach to the target.

The Zerkaltse electronic warfare device modules discovered on the Zala drones contained a signal analyzer that detected the proximity of radiation sources — FPV drones continuously transmitting video signals. Upon detection, the system briefly activated a radio jamming generator, designed to interfere with the guidance of the interceptor drone.

Currently, Ukraine is developing the Sky Hunter software, which automates the process of downing enemy UAVs with FPV drones, minimizing human involvement in this process.

The developer LLC Art Development presented software last month that analyzes data from Ukrainian radars, tracks the coordinates of aerial targets in real-time, and visualizes them on the control panel. The system automatically calculates the flight trajectory of an FPV drone and, upon command, guides it to destroy the target.

Sky Hunter is designed to protect strategic objects from Russian reconnaissance and strike UAVs such as Shahed, Molniya, Zala, and Supercam. The system can be integrated into various FPV drones produced in Ukraine.