Ukraine finds US-made navigation sensor inside Russia’s new jet-powered drone

Ukraine has discovered a US-made navigation sensor within a Russian jet-powered drone, targeting civilian infrastructure such as supermarkets, medical warehouses, and bridges. According to the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence, the weapon incorporates a PNI5GA magneto-inductive sensor from US company PNI Sensor. This finding suggests that Western technology is still present in Russian strike drones.

Previously, Ukraine had identified US-made chips in the Geran-4 drone in May. However, the newly discovered PNI5GA is a navigation sensor integrated into a modified version of the drone, which the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) predicts Russia may deploy before winter. Additionally, Russia has replaced the drone's Chinese-made Telefly turbojet engine with a Russian-produced equivalent, produced in Alabuga, to shift more drone production to domestic sources.

The remaining electronic components in the drone are unchanged and identical to those found in earlier Geran UAVs. The modified drone also carries a specialized KRSN warhead designed to penetrate bridge structures and power-line supports, intended to incapacitate hardened steel and concrete targets, as well as damage cable-stayed bridges.

Russian forces have intensified strikes on Kyiv's Northern and Southern bridges across the Dnipro River using such drones. However, Russia may develop even more robust and dangerous versions of its strike drones before Ukraine can effectively counter them. The ultimate aim could be to disrupt Ukraine's energy infrastructure and logistics before a winter campaign that Russia anticipates will be particularly harsh.