The “Behemoth” strike drone – Ukraine’s answer to Russia’s Shahed

Ukraine has unveiled a new Shahed-style strike drone called “Behemoth,” a long-range loitering munition designed for deep-strike missions and already being used in limited serial production, according to Ukrainian defense industry representatives.

The system was presented at the Wild Drones exhibition by companies GLEFA and Culver Aerospace, and described in comments to Militarnyi. It is designed for what Ukrainian developers call the “medium strike” category, with a stated operational range of up to 300 kilometers and wielding dual warheads.

Shahed-style warfare shaping battlefield development

The development reflects how Shahed-type drones have become one of the defining weapons of the war. Russia has used Iranian-designed Shahed drones in large numbers for long-range strikes against Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure, where mass launches have repeatedly tested air defenses.

Ukraine has responded by rapidly expanding its own strike drone ecosystem, using unmanned systems for both battlefield operations and long-range attacks on military and industrial targets inside Russia.

Designed for low-altitude penetration

Behemoth follows the general Shahed-style loitering munition concept. It is equipped with a 40 kg high-explosive fragmentation warhead in the nose section and a 35 kg thermobaric warhead positioned behind it, according to developers.

It measures 2.28 meters in wingspan and 2.2 meters in length. Developers say it is designed for low-altitude flight profiles intended to reduce detection and interception by air defense systems.

The drone supports autonomous, semi-automatic, and FPV control modes, reflecting Ukraine’s broader shift toward flexible drone control systems adapted to electronic warfare conditions and mission requirements.

Already in serial production

Ukrainian defense officials have increasingly described drones as a core layer of modern warfare, filling roles that previously depended on traditional air power and enabling scalable, lower-cost strike options.

Behemoth is already in serial production and is being deployed by Ukraine’s Defense Forces in limited numbers, according to industry representatives cited by Militarnyi.