{"id":17912,"date":"2025-12-07T20:13:28","date_gmt":"2025-12-07T18:13:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stage.thedefender.media\/?p=17912"},"modified":"2025-12-07T20:21:13","modified_gmt":"2025-12-07T18:21:13","slug":"black-mirror-36","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stage.thedefender.media\/en\/2025\/12\/black-mirror-36\/","title":{"rendered":"Black Mirror #36. A missile on a Shahed, an interceptor-detection module on a Zala, and the anti-drone Lyudmyla"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

At the start of December, Russian forces continue to upgrade and diversify the payload of Shaheds and reconnaissance drones on the battlefield, refresh their logistics UAVs and shift towards electric motorcycles. More on the latest updates in Russian military technology can be found in Defender Media\u2019s weekly review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ground logistics robot Omych<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Omych UGV is a tracked vehicle with a load capacity of \u201cover half a tonne\u201d, designed for logistics and towing equipment. The developers state that the drone can also travel underwater at depths of more than a metre. It can be driven either by a driver using the steering column or in remote control mode. There is also an Omych-Ogonyok modification \u2014 a platform that can carry Shmel, RPG-7, EW systems and drone detectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arming a Shahed with an R-60 missile<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This week, an R-60 air-to-air missile was spotted on a Russian Shahed strike drone<\/a>. According to Serhii \u201cFlesh\u201d Beskrestnov, this combination is intended to destroy helicopters and tactical aircraft that hunt these drones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Proximity-detection module on a Zala UAV<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A proximity-detection module has been identified on the anti-aircraft FPV drones derived from the Zala UAV. Once it receives a signal from this device, the drone executes an evasive manoeuvre, assuming that an enemy interceptor is nearby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The module features an antenna labelled 5.8 GHz, with a range of 4.9\u20136.2 GHz. The antenna signal feeds into a chip operating across all frequencies from 100 MHz to 6 GHz. Further signal tracking is more complex: processing is handled by an STM microprocessor, which then relays data to the flight controller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It has been established that a standard 2.5-W VTX generates a sufficient signal level to trigger the detector at a distance of 8 metres. At the same time, it remains unclear why the regular video and telemetry transmitters do not cause false alarms \u2014 they are likely switched off during transmission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to the radio detector, which picks up signals from Ukrainian interceptor drones, the Zala is fitted with an overhead panoramic camera. Connected via HDMI to the onboard computer, it enables the drone to execute an evasive manoeuvre if the camera detects an enemy drone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patented UGV Kurier variant with EW<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A patented variant of the Kurier robotic system<\/a> has been unveiled, featuring an electronic-warfare package in place of armaments. No images or footage of prototypes are available in open sources, and there is no clarification on which specific EW systems are planned for the drone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Orion-25<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Russia is pursuing a new ekranoplan project, the Orion-25, whose first flying prototype was successfully tested in 2023. The aircraft\u2019s approximate mass is around 14 tonnes, with seating for up to 30 passengers and a top speed of up to 500 km\/h. Its range is up to 3,600 km, or up to 11 hours in the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Structurally, the Orion-25 is an enlarged version of the Orion-20 model and retains its layout \u2014 two front-mounted turboprop engines with tractor propellers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Aviation radar Arbalet-AM<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

At Dubai Airshow, the Radioelectronic Technologies Concern unveiled the multi-mode Arbalet-AM airborne radar suite, intended for installation on helicopters and aircraft. The complex is equipped with an active phased-array radar that provides enhanced low-probability-of-intercept operation and stable target tracking in conditions of heavy electronic interference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The radar uses artificial intelligence to recognise air, ground and maritime objects and can classify ground targets. It is reported that the system has characteristics similar to the \u201cRezets\u201d radar installed on Ka-52M helicopters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Anti-drone turret Lyudmyla<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A version of an anti-drone turret with an electro-optical targeting system, named Lyudmyla, has been presented by volunteers from the Radart design bureau.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The systems, based on the 7.62-mm PKT and 12.7-mm NSVT, are equipped with a modern ballistic computer. According to the developers, they are capable of effectively intercepting small FPV drones at distances of several dozen metres and fire bursts of 15\u201320 rounds at ranges of 500\u2013700 metres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n