{"id":13238,"date":"2025-10-12T22:17:59","date_gmt":"2025-10-12T19:17:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stage.thedefender.media\/?p=13238"},"modified":"2025-12-10T18:21:52","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T16:21:52","slug":"black-mirror-28","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stage.thedefender.media\/en\/2025\/10\/black-mirror-28\/","title":{"rendered":"Black Mirror #28. Loitering munition Assol, Shaheds with a napalm warhead, FPV-drone with satellite communication"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Among the Shaheds attacking Ukraine, kamikaze drones have been identified carrying warheads with airburst and napalm charges. These are capable of inflicting greater damage than previous versions. In addition, Russian developers are working on hybrid satellite constellations for UAV control, next-generation infrared camera matrices for drones, FPV drones with satellite communication, and new loitering munitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more about these and other enemy military innovations in\u00a0Black Mirror\u00a0#28.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drone project exchange<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Russians plan to launch a drone project exchange based on a digital personnel registry for the unmanned aerial systems (UAS) market. In addition, the platform is expected to feature rankings of educational institutions, training programs, and employers, as well as a UAS expertise centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It will enable citizens with relevant experience and specialised knowledge in this field to seek opportunities to apply their skills and expertise to projects posted within the registry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Russian interceptor drone<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n
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\"Drone<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The NPC-BASiRTK demonstrated<\/a> tests of a new domestic interceptor drone. It is reported that such drones will be used, in particular, as part of a distributed system with heterogeneous robotic complexes for monitoring maritime conditions and infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The drone follows a typical interceptor design, featuring four motors and vertical takeoff. In the published video, only its flights are shown, including horizontal flight and hovering in the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shahed with an airburst and napalm warhead<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Russians have begun<\/a> installing a new fragmentation\u2011high-explosive warhead with airburst capability on the Shahed kamikaze drones. The warhead body has a diameter of 300 mm and a length of 375 mm. The exterior features batch markings, a manufacturer’s designation, and a yellow line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ready-to-use lethal elements are located in the upper part of the body. At the bottom, there are three filling ports and six threaded bolts for attaching an inertia-type base detonator 493M. The explosive charge is described as a plastisol charge, likely OLA or LP-30T, though the exact mass and weight of the charge are currently unknown. Additionally, a LiDAR sensor was found in the body, which may indicate the capability of airburst detonation at a predetermined altitude over the target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This suggests that the new warhead is designed not only for contact impact but also to increase the effectiveness of fragmentation-high-explosive damage by detonating at a specified height. The use of such warheads may be driven by the need to strike targets protected by anti-drone structures, such as nets. Additionally, they can be employed for strikes over open areas, maximising damage to people, buildings, vehicles, and other objects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Shahed warhead with napalm was also discovered<\/a>. The warhead has no official designation. It is filled with a red-brown liquid incendiary mixture, presumably napalm. A notable feature of the design is the non-standard initiation method: the burst charge is based on OFBCH-2 with a UZ-2 detonator. According to the markings on the UAV, the total weight of the warhead is approximately 90 kg. The warhead is shaped as a cylinder with visually thin walls. In the centre, an OFBCH-2 explosive charge weighing 2 kg is installed for igniting and dispersing the incendiary mixture over a specified area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An additional reservoir of incendiary mixture was found in the nose, apparently using a container similar to the fuel tank in Gerber-type UAVs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Airships with variable configuration<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A patent for an industrial design of an \u201cairship with variable configuration\u201d from the scientific and production enterprise Spec-Radio was found in the database of the Federal Institute of Industrial Property. Externally, it resembles the ATL\u0410 series transport and cargo, as well as patrol-cruise airships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This enterprise can be considered the most competent and technologically prepared for serial production of aerostat technology, for example, aerostats capable of meeting the needs of air defence in protecting against UAV attacks. For the launch of the serial output, the enterprise has prepared several small tactical aerostats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hybrid satellite constellations for UAV control<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In Russia, the creation of hybrid satellite constellations for drone control is being explored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the National Technology Initiative Fund, led by Dmitry Peskov, the issue of creating hybrid constellations is being developed. The term \u201chybrid\u201d refers not to the communication network between satellites and ground systems, but rather to the integration of mission objectives, including communication, navigation, and optics, into a single platform for controlling drone constellations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Battery factory for UAVs<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A facility opened in Innopolis will produce lithium-ion batteries for 30 industrial sectors \u2014 from robotics to UAVs. The project received an investment of 1.5 billion rubles from the company Batareon, and the Industrial Development Fund funded the procurement of equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The enterprise will manufacture batteries, battery cells, chargers, and BMS boards \u2014 electronic controllers that manage the battery’s operation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Batteries<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Data transmission on small spacecraft<\/strong><\/strong>s<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Geoscan and the Gonets Satellite System (Roscosmos) have successfully tested high-speed data transmission on small spacecraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The testing was conducted on the Geoscan-4 and Geoscan-5 satellites, equipped with Gonets transceivers. Communication sessions were carried out in the S-band (2-4 GHz) in various modes, with data transmission speeds of up to 1 Mbps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The S-band is considered optimal for satellite control and management in orbit, as well as for organising mobile satellite communications. The spacecraft successfully transmitted technical data, test arrays, and video files from onboard cameras, and the ground infrastructure received all the information in full.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Scientist<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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In the future, representatives expect also to obtain statistical data, which can be used for modelling advanced satellite systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drones at the PMGF-2025 Exhibition<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

UAVs and counter-UAV systems have become an integral part of major industry exhibitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the Petersburg International Gas Forum, KVV fire drones from Rostec and robotic platforms with interceptor drones were demonstrated, highlighting the current challenging situation with attacks on Russian infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Passive detection device Ogonyok<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The holding company RosEl (Rostec) has designed a portable passive detection device, Ogonyok, which intercepts video signals from enemy drones. It is reported that the device has already successfully passed testing in a combat zone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ogonyok scans the surrounding area in a 360-degree radius for radio signals across a wide frequency range. When a drone\u2019s radio stream is detected, it extracts the video signals and classifies different FPV drones as well as DJI and Autel UAVs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The device can be powered from a standard car outlet, and any Android device can be used as the operator\u2019s display.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New model of the loitering munition Assol<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Specialists in the defence-industrial sector have completed the development and testing of a new kamikaze-type strike UAV. The system was designed with tactical suggestions from UAV operators in the combat zone in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tactical and technical specifications:<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Loitering<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n