Russia equips FPV drone with 4G trail camera

Images of 俄罗斯‘s latest FPV drone have surfaced online through Telegram, showcasing a unique feature, instead of a standard camera package, it comes equipped with a 4G trail camera for remote monitoring and data capture.

The flying trail cam

Shared by Sergey Flash, an R&D professional working for the 乌克兰 Army on electronic warfare, EW, and communications, the post goes into detail on a new Russian drone that was found on the front line.

Sergey’s post reads as follows, “Attention! Cuttlefish that flew into one of the front zones.
The unit on the drone is a camera trap that takes photos and transmits them via the mobile network, but the mobile antenna is not connected for some reason.”

Unlike the two main types of FPV Drones we’ve seen in the war so far, kamikaze and surveillance, this unit takes on a new approach to the later.

Rather than capturing photos and videos from above, this new drone is designed to fly behind enemy lines or close to them and land. Doing so allows the trail camera mounted to the top of the drone to capture movement and photos of the enemy.

The trail camera is connected to a 4G network, allowing the data to be shared back to the Russian side. Which means they have additional intel on specific Ukrainian locations.

To improve the visibility of the trail camera, the drone has been raised using what appears to be spray painted gold pipes, allowing it to see above leaves and small shrubbery.

Be sure to keep an eye out on Sergey on Telegram as he often shares the latest in drones and electronics being used in the war. An interesting insight into a tragic situation.

Drones on the front line

The widespread use of low-cost drones in the Ukraine-Russia conflict marks one of the most significant shifts in modern warfare. Their affordability and accessibility have hugely transformed the dynamics of combat.

Take a look at some of our recent coverage on drones being used in the war:

• Night Hunters: How Ukraine’s $20K Drones Are Reshaping Modern Warfare
• Ukrainian USV captured taking down Russian helicopter
• Latvia Accelerates Combat Drone Support for Ukraine with New 1,000-Unit Initiative
• Ukraine’s Shchedryk Surveillance Drone Approved for Military Operations

Image via Sergey Flash on Telegram