Sting (drone)

The Sting was developed by the Wild Hornets group for the purpose of intercepting the large number of Shahed drones that Russia use to attack Ukrainian cities and that can overwhelm other types of air defenses.

After months of testing, modifications, and financial struggles (including a near-shutdown in early 2025), the Sting interceptor was born. Its first public success came in April 2025, when a video of a Sting downing a Shahed went viral, sparking widespread military interest and adoption. The project was largely funded by volunteers and charitable donations, with key support from activist Serhii Sternenko.^[2]

Built with a 3D printed, aerodynamic, bullet-shaped frame and propelled by four rotors,^[3] the Sting can reach flight speeds of 213 mph (343 km/h) and cruise at an altitude of 10,000 ft (3,000 m).^[4] It uses Kurbas thermal imaging cameras from Odd Systems.^[5] Sting has an engagement range of up to 25 kilometers.^[6]Sting drones can be controlled from distances of up to 2,000 kilometers using the Hornet Vision Control system.^[7]

Cost estimates for a Sting is around $2,100;^[8] much cheaper than the estimated $35,000 cost of a Shahed drone.^[3] This favorable cost ratio enables large-scale procurement through volunteer initiatives and state funding while preserving expensive traditional surface-to-air missiles for higher-tier threats. Consequently, the low unit price makes sustained, localized point-defense economically viable across high-risk flight corridors.^[9]

Ukrainian MP Maryan Zablotskyy helped to secure a grant for the development of the Sting drone.^[10].

In May 2025, the Wild Hornets published thermal imaging footage from a Sting interceptor as it downed a Shahed drone, "marking a breakthrough in frontline drone defense".^[11][12][13]

On 1 August 2025 the supplier of the thermal cameras for the Sting claimed that it had intercepted "dozens of Iranian-Russian drones".^[14]

In October 2025 a Ukrainian military delegation visited Denmark and successfully demonstrated the Sting against a QinetiQ Banshee target drone.^[15]

As per October 2025, the Sting interceptor drones have destroyed over 1,000 enemy UAVs.^[6]

In December 2025, the Sting became the first interceptor to down the Russian Geran-3, a jet-powered variant of the Shahed drone.^[16] In April 2026, the Sting was responsible for 70% of the intercepted jet-powered Shaheds^[17]

As per February 2026, the Sting have destroyed over 3,900 Shahed/Geran drones.^[18]

The number of Shahed/Gerbera drones downed climbed to 7,000 in May 2026^[19] and to 9,000 in June 2026.^[20]

The monthly production rate is over 10,000 units per month in March 2026.^[21]

In April 2026, the Sting was Ukraine's top anti-Shahed interceptor drone per number of kills for 7 months in a row, as claimed by the manufacturer.

In April 2026, Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces have for the first time intercepted a Russian Shahed-type drone using a Sting interceptor launched from an unmanned surface vessel, a world premiere. ^[22]

In April 2026, Ukrainian MP Maryan Zablotskyy conducted a historic experiment — he piloted an FPV interceptor drone first from his office, then in front of the state border, and then another 2,000 km away from the drone itself — from abroad.^[23][24]

In August 2026, a Sting interceptor set the world record for drone-on-drone interception at 6,858 meters of altitude, destroying a Russian reconnaissance drone. This record was beaten again in August 2026 with an interception at 7,472 meters of altitude^[25].

• List of Russo-Ukrainian War military equipment
• UJ-25 Skyline – Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle
• UJ-26 Bober (drone) – Ukrainian long-range UAV
• Terminal Autonomy AQ-400 Scythe
• Shahed 238 – Iranian unmanned aerial combat vehiclesPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets