Russian V2U AI-powered strike drone deployed in Ukraine
Russia deployed an AI-powered autonomous kamikaze drone called the V2U along the Ukrainian front line. The drone selects and attacks targets without human control, using computer vision and terrain mapping, making it resistant to jamming. Ukrainian intelligence revealed it uses foreign components including NVIDIA processors and Chinese electronics.
What happened
Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) identified Russia's new V2U strike drone in active use along the front line in the Sumy sector starting spring 2025. The drone, approximately 1.2 meters wingtip to wingtip, uses AI for autonomous target selection and can operate without human control, relying on computer vision and terrain mapping for navigation.
The V2U carries a 2.9-kg shaped-charge warhead and can fly for up to an hour at 60 km/hr. It features a Chinese-made Leetop A203 minicomputer with an NVIDIA Jetson Orin module for image processing and target acquisition, along with GPS and Russian GLONASS positioning, a laser rangefinder, and a 100-GB solid state drive for terrain-following navigation.
Reported impact
The autonomous capability makes the V2U resistant to electronic warfare and jamming attacks, as it can navigate and strike without requiring a real-time control link. Analysts suggest the drone gives Russia an advantage in the emerging field of autonomous drone warfare.
Index analysis
HUR reported that despite Russian labeling, most of the drone's components are foreign-made, including Chinese, Japanese, and American parts. The computing system relies on NVIDIA's Jetson Orin processor, a Japanese Sony sensor, and components from Irish and other foreign manufacturers.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.