Security Service of Ukraine receives new Grey Widow kamikaze drones

Ukraine's Security Service has acquired new Grey Widow kamikaze drones, capable of 120 km/h speeds and 52 km range. These domestically-produced, highly maneuverable drones showcase how Ukraine bolsters its defense capabilities with home-grown technology.

Aug 31, 2024 - 17:00

Security Service of Ukraine receives new Grey Widow kamikaze drones

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has received several new Grey Widow kamikaze drones, which are capable of flying up to 120 km/h and are very maneuverable.

The acquisition of these advanced Grey Widow drones represents a significant enhancement to Ukraine’s military capabilities, particularly in covert operations and precision strikes. As the war continues, such domestically produced, high-performance unmanned systems provide Ukraine with cost-effective tools to counter enemy forces and protect its territory. Furthermore, this development also highlights Ukraine’s growing domestic defense industry and its ability to innovate in response to urgent battlefield needs.

As reported by the manufacturer of the drones, Heavenly Punishment, the drones have been delivered to the SBU’s special operations center ”A”.

Besides their speed, the drones are capable of flying distances up to 52 kilometers. To enable the drone to fly over long distances, it can be paired with a Matrice 300 repeater drone. This is a stable connection that provides a high-quality shot until the target is hit.

Batch of Gray Widow attack drones 1. Ukraine. Photo credits: “Nebesna Kara” on Telegram. — Batch of Gray Widow attack drones. Photo via: “Nebesna Kara” on Telegram.

Defense news outlet Militarnyi describes the drone in the following way: “Grey Widow is a sneaky bird that appears where it is not expected and is maneuverable enough to hit targets both on and above the ground, and possibly much higher above it.”

The news outlet emphasizes that the Grey Widow drones are quite popular among charitable foundations and regional administrations, which buy them through a tender.

Made in Ukraine

In July of this year, the Cabinet of Ministers adopted a resolution that allows the purchase of domestically produced drones through Prozorro.

With this resolution, manufacturers will have equal access to government contracts, and competition will help the government procure drones at a better price. A customer who wants to buy a UAV places a frame ad on Prozorro with a description of the drone he wants.

Sellers can register in this framework, and then they receive information about the terms, place of delivery, and other data necessary for the purchase. Then an auction is held, and the seller with the most favorable offer wins.

Prozorro is a fully electronic public procurement platform that ensures open access to public tenders in Ukraine.

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