Ukraine has received its first SHARK ultralight aircraft with electronic warfare from the Czech-Slovak company SHARK.AERO. It can detect and jam enemy drones and will strengthen the defense of Ukrainian skies against Russian attacks.
Ukraine has received its first SHARK ultralight aircraft with electronic warfare from the Czech-Slovak company SHARK.AERO. It can detect and jam enemy drones and will strengthen the defense of Ukrainian skies against Russian attacks.
According to the German publication ES&T, the SHARK was conceived as a high-performance two-seater aircraft for civilian use. However, it received a military version with electronic warfare functions, which, together with high maneuverability and a speed of about 300 km/h, turns the SHARK into a drone hunter.
«We have developed a special version of SHARK for Ukraine. Using a built-in antenna, we can detect electromagnetic signals from drones such as SHAHED/GERAN and ORLAN. Once detected, onboard systems can jam them using equipment installed under the fuselage,» the representative of SHARK.AERO is quoted as saying by French aviation expert and YouTuber ATE CHUET.
The SHARK electronic warfare component consists of two main systems: the first suppresses GNSS navigation signals. The second suppresses video and remote control channels of enemy drones. The system is installed in a suspended container under the center of the fuselage to have as little impact on aerodynamics as possible. From an altitude of about 1800 m, the system can interfere with the operation of drones within a radius of up to 4.5 km.
Shahed drones use inertial navigation systems (INS) as a backup to GNSS satellite navigation, but they deviate from course during flights that can last several hours. Prolonged interference from a PE aircraft can cause significant deviations from course, even if it does not immediately cause the drone to crash.
In flight, the aircraft reaches a speed of 270 km/h, and the maximum speed is 300 km/h. Thus, it can fly up to 2000 km or, in a light configuration, stay in the air for up to 12 hours. Thanks to the built-in oxygen supply system, the maximum flight altitude is 5500 m. SHARK is equipped with a general rescue system, with which the aircraft safely descends to the ground by parachute.
Earlier, it became known about a UAV from the Ukrainian manufacturer «Wild Hornets», which was probably equipped with electronic warfare equipment — it intercepted and «suppressed» the Russian Molniya-2 strike drone in the air.
