Ukrainian drones receive AI upgrades for autonomous attacks

Ukrainian drone operators used $400 Shrike drones with explosive payloads to destroy multiple Russian armored vehicles and military helicopters. Now thousands of these drones are being upgraded with AI systems capable of autonomously tracking and targeting moving targets. Starting in mid-July, the Ukrainian military began receiving Shrike drones manufactured by Ukrainian company SkyFall equipped with autonomy technology developed by American company Auterion. The companies plan to deliver 50,000 drones equipped with Auterion's Skynode S kits in coming months. The system allows operators to manually fly the drones to a combat area, designate a target up to half a mile away, and activate autonomous terminal guidance mode.