For a while to this Ukrainian part has turned the opening of the different Russian drones confiscated or fallen in combat in the closest to research pieces to third parties. Thus they have revealed from hidden messages of Moscow troops, to the origin of the vast majority of technology components (with great surprises). It has also been known to what extent China is part of the war machinery.
Now you have to add to a new and important actor: Nvidia.
Drones con IA. We have been telling it: the war of drones in Ukraine has entered a new phase, with both sides competing for displaying systems endowed with artificial intelligence capable of resisting electronic interference and attacking objectives autonomously.
The chip. What has now been known is that Russia, despite the sanctions that should prevent access to Nvidia hardware, has managed to incorporate its powerful Jetson processors into several of the most advanced models of drones, obtained by contraband in small lots and through third countries.
These chips, fundamental in the development of AI due to their parallel processing capacity, allow to integrate advanced navigation, recognition and guided functions that increase lethality and reduce dependence on control links vulnerable to blockages.
Nvidia and the technological basis. Nvidia, valued in more than four billion dollars and with about 85% of the global chips market for AI, produces both high performance units for data centers and Jetson compact plates for devices on the edge, including drones.
The latter, with low relative cost, have demonstrated in competitions of 2021 and 2023 their ability to defeat human pilots in FPV races, using only sensors and processing on board. The Jetson Orin version, current standard in advanced drones, multiplies by ten the power of its predecessor TX2, opening the door to autonomous navigation algorithms, detection of complex objectives and maneuvers such as swarming.
Digital predators. In 2023 it was discovered that Russian Drones Lancet, with 11 kg of weight and scope of 40 km, used the Jetson TX2 for automatic follow -up functions, increasing impact precision even if communication was lost. After an initial phase of problems in 2024, software improvements raised from 30% to 60% the percentage of impacts guided by AI.
Forbes counted that the new generation includes three key models with Jetson Orin: the modified Shahed MS001, which combines satellite navigation, thermal chamber and objective recognition; The V2U, with four wings and 40 km of reach, with navigation by comparison of land and sequential attack capacity in basic swarm, and the Tyuvik, a reduced version of the Shahed with 32 km of reach, designed to hunt vehicles in motion and manufactured with commercial components.
Capacities and limitations. The MS001, in addition to its autonomous navigation, can identify and attack objectives without depending exclusively on preprogrammed coordinates. The V2U, with a high -resolution camera, laser telemeter and digital modem, can travel routes looking for whites, although its discrimination is imperfect and has registered erroneous attacks.
Its teamwork mode, distinguishing drones by color brands and attacking in shifts, represents an advance towards the coordinated swarm. The Tyuvik, lighter, aims to saturate defenses by low cost and mass production. In all cases, software and hardware are scalable and compatible between platforms, which allows to incorporate simultaneously the entire fleet.
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Strategic implications. No doubt, these advances bring the end of drones not endowed with high intensity environments. With software systems such as Flir Prism or Skynode de Auterion, new functions (from air combat to advanced swarm) can be implemented quickly and with reduced costs. The proliferation of hardware such as Jetson, accessible in the global market and difficult to control, makes this technology “out of the bottle” and available for any state or non -state actor.
On the Ukrainian front, where drone saturation marks the combat rhythm, the combination of flexible production, advanced AI and autonomous capabilities multiplies the threat and redefines the balance in the low -level air war.
Image | Ukraine Courage
In WorldOfSoftware | Ukraine has hunted an “invisible” drone of Russia. The surprise has been capitalized when opening it: it is “made in USA”
In WorldOfSoftware | Ukraine knocked a Russian Shahed drone and opened it. A hidden message has revealed Moscow’s advantage in electronic warfare
