Sting (drone)
| The Sting | |
|---|---|
 The Sting being prepared for launch | |
| Type | Quadcopter, loitering munition |
| Place of origin | Ukraine |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2024 |
| Wars | Russo-Ukrainian War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Wild Hornets |
| Manufacturer | Wild Hornets |
| Unit cost | $1,000-$5,000 |
| Produced | 2024 |
| Specifications | |
| Engine | 4 × electric rotor |
| Flight ceiling | 10,000 ft (3,000 m) |
| Maximum speed | 100 mph (160 km/h) |
Steering system | manual via VR goggles[1] |
The Sting (Ukrainian: Стінг) is a Ukrainian drone-intercepting loitering munition developed during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[1]
Description
[edit]The Sting was developed by the Wild Hornets group for the purpose of intercepting the large number of Shahed drones that Russia use to attack Ukrainian cities and that can overwhelm other types of air defenses.
Built with a 3-D printed, aerodynamic, bullet-shaped frame and propelled by four rotors[2] the Sting can reach flight speeds of 100 mph (160 km/h) and cruise at an altitude of 10,000 ft (3,000 m).[3] It uses Kurbas thermal imaging cameras from Odd Systems.[4]
Cost estimates for a Sting range from $1,000-$5,000 depending on optics and payload,[5] much cheaper than the estimated $35,000 cost of a Shahed drone.[2]
Operational history
[edit]In May 2025, the Wild Hornets published thermal imaging footage from a Sting interceptor as it downed a Shahed drone, "marking a breakthrough in frontline drone defense".[6][7][8]
On 1 August 2025 the supplier of the thermal cameras for the Sting claimed that it had intercepted "Dozens of Iranian-russian drones".[9]
In October 2025 a Ukrainian military delegation visited Denmark and successfully demonstrated the Sting against a QinetiQ Banshee target drone.[10]
Operators
[edit]
See also
[edit]
- List of Russo-Ukrainian War military equipment
- UJ-25 Skyline – Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle
- UJ-26 Bober (drone) – Ukrainian long-range UAV
- Terminal Autonomy AQ-400 Scythe
- Shahed 238 – Iranian unmanned aerial combat vehicles
References
[edit]- ^ a b Barnes, Joe (2024-10-20). "Anti-drone drone developed by Ukraine to take out Iranian-designed kamikazes". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
- ^ a b Tyrer-Jones, Alex (2025-07-25). "Ukraine Deploys 3D Printed Drones to Combat Russian Shahed Swarms". 3dprintingindustry.com. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
- ^ Tymur Dubovyk, Steve Brown. "'Wild Hornets' Latest Development Will 'Sting' Russian Shahed Drones". www.kyivpost.com. Archived from the original on 2025-07-22. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
- ^ "Sting interceptor drones are equipped with thermal imaging cameras from Odd Systems". dev.ua. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
- ^ Hambling, David. "Ukraine Deploying 'Tens Of Thousands' Of Interceptors To Stop Shaheds". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
- ^ Syngaivska, Sofiia (19 May 2025). "New Video Captures the Moment Ukrainian Sting FPV Drone Intercepted and Eliminated russian Shahed UAV from Behind". Defense Express. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
- ^ Litnarovych, Vlad (May 20, 2025). "Ukrainian VR-Piloted Sting Drone Takes Out Shahed UAV in First-Ever Recorded Strike". United24 Media.
- ^ Shumlianskyi, Dmytro (19 May 2025). "First Footage Appears of Ukrainian Interceptor Drone Targeting Shahed". militarnyi.com.
- ^ @YaroslavAzhnyuk (August 1, 2025). "Dozens of Iranian-russian drones have already been intercepted by Ukrainian soldiers using Sting interceptors from the Wild Hornets unit, equipped with Kurbas-640-Alpha thermal cameras" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Ukrainian Military Shot Down Several Drones In Danish Skies". Charter 97. 2025-10-04. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
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