Ukraine Unveils Behemot Drone with 300 km Range for Military Operations
Severity: High (Score: 62.7)
Sources: Gwaramedia, Pravda.Ua
Published: · Updated:
Keywords: ukrainian, companies, ukraine, behemot, drone, flight, range
Severity indicators: ot
Summary
On May 26, 2026, Ukrainian defense companies GLEFA and Culver Aerospace introduced the Behemot drone, a kamikaze UAV inspired by the Shahed series, capable of striking targets up to 300 kilometers away. The drone features two warheads: a 40 kg high-explosive fragmentation warhead in the nose and a 35 kg thermobaric warhead in the rear. With a wingspan of 2.28 meters and a length of 2.2 meters, the Behemot can operate autonomously or in semi-automatic and FPV modes, and its low-altitude flight capability enhances its evasion of air defense systems. The drone has entered mass production and is already being utilized by Ukraine's Defense Forces. This development comes as Ukraine has significantly increased its drone production, tripling output in 2025 compared to the previous year, driven by a growing need for long-range strike capabilities amid ongoing conflict with Russia. Key Points: • The Behemot drone has a flight range of 300 km and carries two warheads. • It is designed to fly at low altitudes, making it harder for air defenses to detect. • The drone has entered mass production and is currently in use by Ukraine's military.
Detailed Analysis
**Impact** The introduction of the Behemot drone affects Ukrainian military operations by enhancing long-range strike capabilities with a 300 km operational range. The drone’s dual warheads (40 kg high-explosive fragmentation and 35 kg thermobaric) increase lethality against Russian forces. Its deployment supports Ukraine’s defense sector amid ongoing conflict, primarily impacting military targets within Eastern Europe. The mass production and active use by Ukraine’s Defense Forces indicate a significant operational scale. **Technical Details** The Behemot is a kamikaze loitering munition inspired by the Russian-Iranian Shahed series, capable of low-altitude flight to evade air defenses. It supports fully autonomous, semi-automatic, and first-person view (FPV) control modes, enabling flexible engagement tactics. The drone measures 2.28 m wingspan, 2.2 m length, and 0.5 m height, carrying two separate warheads positioned in the nose and rear. No specific malware, CVEs, or infrastructure details were provided. **Recommended Response** Defenders should enhance low-altitude air defense detection capabilities and integrate counter-drone measures focused on mid-range UAVs with dual warhead payloads. Monitoring for increased drone activity and adapting early warning systems to detect autonomous and FPV-controlled drones is advised. No specific cyber defense actions or IOCs are available; focus should remain on kinetic and electronic countermeasures.
Source articles (2)
- Ukrainian companies unveil Behemoth Shahed — Pravda.Ua · 2026-05-26
Ukrainian companies have unveiled the Behemoth, a loitering munition inspired by the Russian-Iranian Shahed series and capable of striking targets at distances of up to 300 km with two separate warhea… - Ukraine presents Behemot drone with flight range of over 180 miles — Gwaramedia · 2026-05-26
UKRAINE , May 26 — GLEFA and Culver Aerospace, two Ukrainian defense technology companies, presented a new Shahed-type kamikaze drone called Behemot with a flight range of more than 300 kilometers (18…
Timeline
- 2026-05-26 — Behemot drone unveiled: GLEFA and Culver Aerospace presented the Behemot drone, capable of striking at 300 km with two warheads.
- 2026-05-26 — Behemot drone enters mass production: The Behemot drone has started mass production and is now operational within Ukraine's Defense Forces.
Related entities
- Russia (Country)
- Ukraine (Country)
- Technology (Industry)