Ukrspecsystems Unveils Upgraded Shark-M UAV

UKRSPECSYSTEMS has presented an upgraded version of its Shark-M unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

The drone was demonstrated during the Designed for Tomorrow: Ukrainian Defence Technology in Action demo day organized by the Technological Forces of Ukraine industry association, the company shared with Militarnyi.

The upgraded platform features GNSS-denied launch algorithms, enabling the UAV to initiate flight without relying on satellite navigation signals.

These algorithms maintain navigation accuracy during the initial phase of flight using only onboard sensors.

The system then transitions the platform to optical navigation or GNSS/GPS-based navigation once airborne.

New сapabilities

The Shark-M has been equipped with the Ukhyliant sensor system, designed to perform evasive maneuvers against interceptor drones

By processing imagery from its optical navigation camera system, the UAV can match live video feeds against satellite imagery to determine its precise position in real time.

The developers have also introduced four specialized image processing modes for the onboard camera system.

Instead of relying on a single all-purpose compromise, the operator selects the operating environment, and the system automatically optimizes image processing accordingly.

The available camera processing modes include:

• Even Lighting – Enhances mid-frequency contrast, allowing small objects to stand out more clearly against the background.
• Shadow Enhancement – Balances exposure in dark areas while preserving proper rendering in brightly lit regions, recovering details that would otherwise be lost in deep shadows.
• Twilight – Adjusts the sensor’s sensitivity, increases exposure time, and applies noise reduction to preserve image detail under low-light conditions.
• Anti-Fog – Enhances high-frequency image components to improve edges and object boundaries in low-contrast scenes. What would otherwise appear as a uniform gray field is transformed into a clear, tactically useful image.

The SHARK-M unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by UKRSPECSYSTEMS is capable of up to 7 hours of endurance, has a communications range of up to 180 km, a maximum mission range of up to 420 km, a service ceiling of up to 3,000 m, and a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of up to 14.5 kg.

The upgraded gyro-stabilized electro-optical systems (EOS) enable target detection at ranges of up to 35 km during daylight and up to 14 km at night, while providing continuous 360° camera rotation.

The Bungee SCL-2 automated launch system accelerates the UAV to a launch speed of 25 m/s.

The Designed for Tomorrow: Ukrainian Defence Technology in Action demo day, organized by the Technological Forces of Ukraine (TFU), was held with the support of defense technology companies Quantum Systems, General Chereshnya, Helsing, Airlogix, Sine Engineering, and F Drones, with Militarnyi serving as the media partner, HIMERA providing communications support, and Dronarium Academy assisting with event organization.

About the Technological Forces of Ukraine: The Technological Forces of Ukraine is Ukraine’s leading defense technology industry association, bringing together around 90 manufacturers of defense technologies and components, representing approximately 10% of the country’s defense industry. TFU members develop and manufacture a broad range of capabilities, including ISR and strike UAVs, unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), electronic warfare (EW) and signals intelligence (SIGINT/ESM) systems, as well as critical components for these technologies. The association works to accelerate the adoption of innovative defense solutions, expand the localization of military technology production, and integrate Ukraine’s defense industry into the global market.