Last year, russians began integrating machine vision into their UAVs as part of their efforts to counter Ukrainian anti-aircraft FPV drones. This technology enables their drones to automatically perform evasive maneuvers.
Recently, new information emerged that russia has decided to scale up this approach and is now mass-producing evasion systems for its Zala drones. The key question remains: how effective is this countermeasure, and what percentage of drones will it actually help the russians save?
It is worth acknowledging that, unlike previous russian attempts—such as theoretical concepts like detectors or electronic warfare systems, as well as simpler solutions like rear-view cameras or painting UAVs with Ukrainian Air Force markings—the idea of machine vision appears to be well thought out and will likely help the russians reduce losses from Ukrainian anti-aircraft FPV drones.
At the same time, for example, the Come Back Alive Foundation for Competent Army Assistance recently demonstrated footage of a Ukrainian anti-aircraft FPV drone countering a russian Zala UAV equipped with an evasion system as part of its Dronopad project.
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 🔥
Ворожі ZALA вже достатньо давно обвішують «камерою заднього виду», яка розпізнає зенітні дрони та ініціює захисні маневри.
Чи заважає це влаштовувати «Дронопад»? Так.
Чи адаптувались наші пілоти до цих маневрів? Теж так 🫶 pic.twitter.com/fBR6tR7ibl
— Повернись живим (@BackAndAlive) March 21, 2025
“The enemy’s Zala drones have been equipped with a rear-view camera for quite some time now. This camera detects anti-aircraft drones and triggers evasive maneuvers. Does it make Dronopad more challenging? Yes. Have our pilots adapted to these maneuvers? Also yes,” the foundation commented on the footage.
The video shows that despite the evasion system working on the enemy drone, the operator of the Ukrainian anti-aircraft FPV drone ultimately manages to catch up and strike the hostile UAV. Before that, the russian reconnaissance drone successfully performed several maneuvers to evade a collision.
A specialist, Serhii Flash Beskrestnov, also recently published footage of an engagement between an anti-air FPV drone and a reconnaissance UAV. In the video above, the anti-aircraft drone was able to get quite close to a russian Zala-type reconnaissance UAV due to the operator’s skill and the camera’s blind spot. However, a gust of wind allowed the Zala to “see” the Ukrainian drone and execute an evasive maneuver. It is also noted that the anti-aircraft drone’s airburst mechanism did not activate, so the enemy reconnaissance UAV had to be rammed.
Additionally, as of today, Ukraine’s Defense Forces are actively testing interceptor drones equipped with shotguns. Recently, the Presidential Brigade showcased footage featuring such a weapon mounted on a Lucky Strike drone, which is primarily designed to counter enemy Mavic-type quadcopters.
Moreover, Sky Defenders previously reported on the testing of a new model of ZigZag-type drones, which are equipped with a four-barrel shotgun.