UNWAVE: Stepovyi Viter Kamikaze Drone Can Hit Targets Up to 70 km Away

The Ukrainian company UNWAVE has developed the Stepovyi Viter kamikaze drone, capable of striking targets at ranges of up to 70 km.

UNWAVE representatives discussed the system with Militarnyi at the MITS x Azov Corps: Defense Technology Horizons 2026 conference.

The unmanned aerial vehicle was developed in cooperation with a team of aviation engineers from Kropyvnytskyi. The drone has already completed production testing, with combat trials expected in the near future.

Stepovyi Viter drone

According to the company, the drone is designed to engage static targets and can carry a 5 kg warhead.

The kamikaze drone features an automatic target acquisition system that enables it to detect and lock onto a target from up to 1,000 meters away.

The guidance and terminal homing system was developed independently by the company’s engineers.

The drone uses a Ukrainian-made digital communications system, which provides the required operational range. It can be operated in automatic, semi-automatic, or manual control modes.

A compact catapult is used for launch. According to the manufacturer, deployment of the entire system takes 20 minutes, while teardown requires 10 minutes.

The Stepovyi Viter system consists of five UAVs, a ground control station, and a catapult launcher.

Read also: UNWAVE has developed the Pastka system for “smart” control of electronic warfare (EW) and electronic intelligence (ELINT) assets

UNWAVE notes that the drone requires no specialized infrastructure and is delivered as a complete, ready-to-deploy system.

Previously, this electronic warfare systems manufacturer obtained a license to produce OCTOPUS interceptor drones.