Long-range UJ-26 “Bober” UAVs upgraded with thermal imagers and manual control capability

The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine has received an upgraded version of the long-range UJ-26 “Bober” drone, now equipped with a thermal imager and the ability to be manually controlled by the operator. The press service published video footage of the new version in operation.

According to the Ministry of Defense, the drone struck the Saki airfield in temporarily occupied Crimea, destroying a Pantsir-S1 air defence system along with its crew, as well as the Niobiy-SV radar, the Pechora-3 coastal radar, the Protivnik-GE radar, and a Russian Su-30 fighter.

The video also shows the UJ-26 being launched from a catapult rather than taking off from a runway. This method requires the deployment of a large launcher but allows the drone to forgo landing gear, improving aerodynamics and extending its range.

The report does not specify which communication system was used, but the high-quality footage up to the moment of impact suggests the possible use of an integrated Starlink satellite terminal.

The UJ-26 “Bober” is a Ukrainian long-range loitering munition. In 2023, the DUI referred to the strike drone as part of the “Black Box” project, developed jointly with the Come Back Alive foundation. The drone has also been described as Ukraine’s response to the Russian-Iranian Shahed drones.