UNWAVE, a Ukrainian defense and technology company, has developed the kamikaze drone Stepovyi Viter, capable of striking targets at distances of up to 70 km.
The unmanned aerial vehicle was developed in cooperation with a team of aviation engineers from Kropyvnytskyi, according to the Ukrainian portal Militarnyi.
The drone has already completed production testing, and combat tests are planned in the near future, UNWAVE representatives said during the MITS x Azov Corps: Defense Technology Horizons 2026 conference.
According to the company, the Stepovyi Viter is designed to engage static targets and can carry a 5 kg warhead. The kamikaze drone has an automatic target acquisition system that allows it to detect and lock onto a target up to 1,000 meters away.
The terminal guidance and homing system was independently developed by the company’s engineers. The drone uses a digitally encrypted communication system manufactured in Ukraine, providing the required operational range.
The Stepovyi Viter is launched using a catapult and can operate in automatic, semi-automatic, or manual control modes. According to the manufacturer, deploying the entire system takes 20 minutes, while disassembly takes only 10 minutes.
The system consists of five UAVs, a ground control station, and a catapult launcher. According to UNWAVE, the drone does not require specialized infrastructure and is delivered as a complete system ready for deployment.
Photo: UNWAVE. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
