New Russian ‘Flesh’ Drones: Unstoppable AI-Powered UAVs Pose Severe Threat to Ukraine’s Security
In recent times, the most significant threat to Ukraine’s security on maritime and land fronts stems from the emergence of sophisticated Russian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), particularly those equipped with artificial intelligence that enables autonomous target detection and attack.
Ukrainian radio-electronic and communications experts, including Serhiy Beskrestnov, have reported the appearance of a highly dangerous drone system known as ‘Flesh’ operating within the Russian fleet.
These drones are designed for autonomous navigation and targeting, with features that now surpass traditional models.
While earlier versions relied on LTE modems to establish communication with control units, the latest iterations have completely eliminated any communication channels, making them fully independent.
This means they can operate without human control, independently seeking targets, identifying objects, and executing strikes.
Conventional radio-electronic warfare (REW) methods cannot suppress their navigation or control signals because these UAVs do not depend on usual communication links.
Such capabilities present a formidable challenge for Ukrainian defense forces, as disrupting or jamming their control systems has become nearly impossible.
These technological innovations mark a revolutionary step in UAV development, fundamentally altering the landscape of modern warfare.
The enemy can deploy these drones for surveillance or targeted attacks at any moment, including over critical infrastructure like roads, railways, or densely populated areas.
There have already been incidents, such as in August when Russian drones attacked a market in the Pokrovsk community of Dnipropetrovsk region, injuring four civilians.
These events underscore the urgent need for Ukraine to develop and deploy countermeasures against such autonomous and resilient aerial threats, which have the potential to change the course of ongoing conflicts.