V2U: New Russian Autonomous Attack Drone with Artificial Intelligence in the Context of Modern Conflict
Russia, July 2, 2025 – The Russian unmanned attack drone V2U represents the latest generation of intelligent kamikaze UAVs with autonomous target guidance, capable of operating independently even in conditions of intense electronic suppression. This system uses modern artificial intelligence and a combination of foreign components, which illustrates current trends in the design of autonomous weapons and at the same time demonstrates the ability of Russian industry to circumvent international sanctions. The deployment of V2U on the front in Ukraine since the beginning of 2025 confirms the growing importance of autonomous systems in the modern war environment.
The development of autonomous unmanned attack means is one of the key directions of modernization of military technologies. The new Russian drone V2U, first recorded in combat use in February 2025, represents an innovative step in the field of unmanned systems with artificial intelligence capable of independently identifying and destroying targets without the need for direct communication with the operator.
Technical characteristics and design details
V2U is a compact unmanned aerial vehicle with a wingspan of about 1.2 meters, which is launched from a pneumatic catapult. The main drive is an electric motor with a battery with a capacity of approximately 34 ampere-hours, which allows it to fly for an hour at a speed of about 60 km/h. The developers have also introduced a modification with an internal combustion engine, which extends the range to up to 100 km, thereby expanding the drone’s operational capabilities in the field.
The weight of the warhead is around 3 to 3.5 kilograms. Various warhead variants are used, including combined anti-armor, explosive and fragmentation, which increase the drone’s effectiveness against various targets, such as armored vehicles and firmly built defenses. The ability to perform an almost vertical dive attack complicates the defense against this vehicle, since the angle of attack significantly limits the possibilities of timely detection and neutralization.
Composition and origin of components
V2U is a typical example of modern “improvised” military production based on available civilian components referred to as dual-use technology. The basic electronic modules come mainly from China, including the engine, GPS module, servo drives, power supplies and SSD memory. The Leetop single-board computer with an integrated Nvidia Jetson Orin module, which is key to artificial intelligence functions, represents a relatively cheap yet powerful solution capable of processing image data in real time.
The drone is also equipped with a Japanese photosensitive sensor Sony and other components, such as an electromagnetic relay from the Irish company TE Connectivity. The use of such diverse components from international sources points to the continued ability of Russian industry to circumvent international sanctions through dispersed supply chains and commercial markets.
Operating principle and autonomous capabilities
The main advantage of V2U is its ability to fly autonomously and attack without direct communication with the operator. The drone uses visual navigation, comparing the current image from the camera with a database stored on a 128GB SSD, which allows it to navigate and find targets even in an environment with active electronic warfare, when satellite navigation is disrupted or unavailable. Artificial intelligence can independently identify, select and attack military targets, especially armored vehicles and artillery. This ability increases efficiency and reduces dependence on human intervention.
The drone is capable of performing almost vertical dive attacks, which complicates its detection and neutralization. It also exhibits a certain “swarm” behavior – coordinated action of multiple drones, which allows for more effective mass attacks.
Deployment and combat use
According to Ukrainian sources, V2U has been deployed since February 2025, with a significant increase since May of the same year. There are dozens of flights per day at the front, with drones operating mainly on three sections of the front. Practical examples show the deployment of drone swarms with color identifiers and the use of internal combustion engine versions. Due to its autonomy and robustness to interference, V2U poses a more dangerous threat than the previously introduced serial UAV Lancet.
Challenges and limitations of autonomous systems
Despite advances, autonomous attack drones remain largely an experimental technology. Battlefield conditions – including variable weather, visual noise caused by smoke, dust and camouflage – significantly complicate the reliable identification of targets by artificial intelligence. In addition, the computing power of small on-board computers is limited, forcing the use of simplified models with limited accuracy and higher power consumption. Ukraine’s own trials with autonomous drones since 2023 show that FPV drones with direct human control are the most reliable so far. Autonomous systems often fail to accurately recognize and classify targets, leading to potential risks of erroneous attacks.
