When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works .
Система навигации российского беспилотника. Саморезами прикрутили компас, на который смотрит камера, чтобы сверяться с курсом. Аналогов нет. Уверен, в документах пишут: Навигационное оборудование, основанное на принципах магнетизма Земли. pic.twitter.com/DncTH3ff1z July 17, 2026
The Molniya is a cheap, medium-range drone that relies on the open-source ExpressLRS radio control system, which lets operators control it from a potential maximum range of up to 62 miles (100 kilometers). Some versions also used Starlink connections to combat the jamming efforts of Ukrainian electronic warfare units, but Ukraine’s requirement to register Starlink units in the country before they can be used has supposedly made this strategy unviable.
The drone can also be equipped with a fiber optic cable , which renders it impervious to any sort of electronic interference. Although this limits the potential range of the Molniya to just 18 miles (30 kilometers), it allows the drone to be more effective as it reduces the chances that the operator will lose control of the unit.
GPS jamming is also a common occurrence in Ukrainian airspace. This means that drone operators could potentially get lost on their way to their targets. Because of this, many frontline Russian units have started crudely installing magnetic compasses on their drones. This navigation tool is typically installed just below the FPV camera, allowing the operator to glance down to confirm their bearings. When combined with other telemetry data, the drone pilot could locate their relative location even without GPS.
One leaked image shows that the compass is just attached to the panel near the FPV camera with five Philips screws, suggesting that this isn’t a factory modification. Some people are mocking the development of this “add-on,” saying that it’s a step backward for the supposedly “advanced” Russian arsenal. But no matter how rough and primitive it looks, the fact that it helps the Russians achieve their missions means that it’s still a cheap, effective, and rather deadly modification.
Commercial satellite supplying intel to Ukraine is cornered by four Russian spacecraft
Acoustic mapping app uses thousands of networked old Android phones to hunt Shahed drones
Ukraine’s new AI-guided laser destroys Shahed suicide drones in seconds from 3.1 miles away
Follow Tom's Hardware on Google News , or add us as a preferred source , to get our latest news, analysis, & reviews in your feeds.
Get Tom's Hardware's best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox.
Key considerations
- Investor positioning can change fast
- Volatility remains possible near catalysts
- Macro rates and liquidity can dominate flows
Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/drones/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/drones/russian-drones-spotted-using-screwed-on-magnetic-compasses-as-navigation-aids-the-on-board-camera-can-occasionally-tilt-down-to-check-bearings-if-satellite-comms-are-lost#main
- https://www.tomshardware.com/membership
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk Wifi II motherboard review: Loses features from the original, but shaves a few dollars off the price
- AI Innovators Adopt NVIDIA Vera — Why Max Single-Threaded CPU at Scale Matters
- NVIDIA Unlocks AI Compute at Scale, Inviting Partners to Power the AI Infrastructure Buildout
- Prusa Research Founder Edition INDX launches — limited 1,000-unit run of revolutionary toolchanger mod now shipping
- GTA 3 and Vice City are now playable inside San Andreas — a mod lets you revisit Liberty City and Vice City without leaving San Andreas
Informational only. No financial advice. Do your own research.