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Russia upgrades Zala Z-16 reconnaissance drone with AI to autonomously evade Ukrainian drone interceptors

On March 14, 2025, the Russian company Zala Aero reported that its Z-16 reconnaissance unmanned aerial system (UAS) had returned to its crew following an attempted intercept by a First-Person View (FPV) drone. According to the operator, the drone was damaged by shrapnel during the encounter but managed to return independently despite losing its communication link. The company indicated that the Z-16 is equipped with special cameras, which identify incoming threats and instruct the onboard system to execute evasive maneuvers. The onboard systems reportedly allowed the aircraft to orient itself, navigate without communication, and land using its parachute and air shock absorber. Read full defense news at this link...

The Z-16 has been used by the Russian Armed Forces since the beginning of the war in Ukraine to gather intelligence on enemy positions, locate camouflaged equipment, and provide targeting data for artillery and airstrikes. (Picture source: Zala)



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