Budanov: antennas for the Shahed were developed by Ukrainian engineers who left for Russia
2 July 2025 21:42
The head of the Defense Ministry’s Main Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, said that CRPA antennas for Shahed-type attack drones, which are now being manufactured by Russia, were developed in Ukraine in the early 2000s, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
According to him, the engineer who created these antennas left for Russia, as the development did not arouse interest at the time. One of the two authors of the project is now dead in Russia, and the other is alive, but, as Budanov hinted, “probably not for long.”
CRPA antennas allow drones to navigate more effectively in the face of electronic warfare. They are actively used in Shahed-type kamikaze drones.
Electronic warfare specialist Serhiy “Flash” Beskrestnov noted that Russians produce such antennas in different configurations – 4-, 8- and 12-element, and their prices start at $10 thousand. However, according to intelligence, Russia has difficulties with the production of the most powerful 12-element systems and a long waiting list for them.
