❌

Vue normale

Aujourd’hui — 5 juillet 2025Flux principal
  • ✇Euromaidan Press
  • Ukraine develops new laser drone that guides precision strikes through jamming
    Ukraine just cleared its first domestically built laser-targeting drone for battlefield use. The R-34-T can now illuminate targets for guided bombs and artillery rounds across Defense Forces units. Drones have fundamentally transformed modern warfare, with Ukraine’s conflict against Russia serving as the world’s largest real-time laboratory for unmanned systems. These relatively cheap weapons—some costing under $400—now account for up to 70% of Russian equipment losses, proving that swarms of sm
     
  • ↗️
✇Euromaidan Press

Ukraine develops new laser drone that guides precision strikes through jamming

Par :Vira Kravchuk
5 juillet 2025 à 10:58

The R-34-T drone is Ukraine's first domestically produced laser targeting system that illuminates targets for artillery and aviation strikes.

Ukraine just cleared its first domestically built laser-targeting drone for battlefield use. The R-34-T can now illuminate targets for guided bombs and artillery rounds across Defense Forces units.

Drones have fundamentally transformed modern warfare, with Ukraine’s conflict against Russia serving as the world’s largest real-time laboratory for unmanned systems. These relatively cheap weapons—some costing under $400—now account for up to 70% of Russian equipment losses, proving that swarms of small drones can be more effective than expensive traditional artillery. Ukraine produced over 2 million drones in 2024 and plans to increase production to between 2.5 million and 5 million drones annually by 2025.  An international drone coalition of 20 countries supports Ukraine with funding and joint projects, contributing nearly $194 million to drone procurement. 

Why does this matter? Most precision weapons need someone to “paint” the target with a laser beam. Until now, Ukrainian forces relied on ground teams or imported systems for this dangerous work.

The drone was built specifically for Ukraine’s military and passed all required tests, according to the Ministry of Defense. But what makes it different from commercial drones Ukraine has been using?

The R-34-T carries protected communication links that resist Russian jamming. Its modular design allows quick repairs and upgrades. And it can operate at longer ranges than typical battlefield drones.

Here’s the tactical advantage: Ukrainian artillery and aircraft can now hit targets with surgical precision even when enemy air defenses are active. The laser guidance dramatically improves accuracy at extended distances—exactly what Ukraine needs against dug-in Russian positions.

The Ministry of Defense emphasizes that the system’s resistance to radio-electronic warfare tools represents a key operational advantage.

Ukraine has been pushing to reduce ammunition waste while keeping operators safer. The R-34-T addresses both problems—fewer missed shots mean less exposure time for crews.

The R-34-T now joins combat units nationwide, putting homegrown precision targeting directly into Ukrainian hands.

 

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this. We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. Become a patron or see other ways to support. 
❌
❌