According to Ukrainian reports, Chinese-controlled reception pattern antennae (CRPA) are improving Russia’s Shahed drones, making them more resistant to Ukraine’s electronic warfare. These advanced systems help counter signal jamming and spoofing, techniques used to misdirect drones by sending false GPS signals.
Since January, Ukraine has reported the discovery of Chinese antennae in the Iranian drones ‘Shahed’. At the time, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, an advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, suggested these devices were originally intended for agricultural use. However, on Friday, Ukrainian radio technology expert Sergey “Flash” Beskrestnov revealed that a Shahed had been found carrying the most sophisticated Chinese anti-jamming device yet.
Beskrestnov shared an image of a circular dish containing 16 elements, which process signals. In contrast, earlier versions found in January only had eight elements. The greater the number of elements in an antenna, the better it can resist powerful jamming and multiple spoofing signals.
“This is the first recorded instance of its use,” Beskrestnov wrote.
Col. Yuriy Ihnat, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s air force, discussed the technology’s evolution in a Monday broadcast on ICTV. He explained that while previous models had eight channels, the newer version has 16, requiring Ukraine to enhance its electronic warfare measures.
“The more antennas the drone has, the more suppression systems we need,” Ihnat stated. “That is where our military-industrial complex is concentrating its efforts, with assistance from partners and organizations.”
Although Shahed drones, designed in Iran, are not known for integrating Chinese anti-jamming antennae, however it seem Russia has managed to couple the two with devastating effect. Ukraine also discovered Russia’s 12-element Kometa military antenna on a Shahed in February.
The presence of Chinese components in Russia’s drones may indicate how Moscow is circumventing Western sanctions intended to limit its access to critical electronic parts. In November, Ukraine reported that Russia had been deploying decoy drones equipped with Western-made components like transceivers.
Meanwhile, Russia is ramping up domestic production of long-range attack drones based on the Shahed design, which it heavily relies on for striking Ukrainian infrastructure and air defences. One such variant is the Geran-2, closely resembling the Shahed-136.
In July, media reported that European officials observed Russian and Chinese companies collaborating on another drone project. Both countries have made no official statements on the use of the Chinese antennae. Recently, the collaboration between Russia and China has intensified after 2022.
The talks between Russia and the US concluded on Monday in the city of Riyadh. However, neither nation has disclosed the outcome and details of the talks publicly. Russia attacked hours after the marathon U.S.-Russia talks on peace; Russia attacked with 139 Iranian-made Shahed drones and an Iskander ballistic missile. Seven regions were targeted, including Kyiv. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, 78 drones were shot down, while 34 others were decoys. A total of 14 people were injured in different regions of Ukraine in the attack.
