The key facts

  • The CODE380 D·Vision SDR receiver picks up live video from Russian drone cameras, which is transmitted without encryption
  • Weighing about 10 ounces — less than half the weight of competing Ukrainian models
  • The device covers the frequencies to which Molniya drones switched in June; specialist Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov warns about the limitations of detectors

What is known about the device

Ukrainian drone crews have received a new way to keep watch on the drones that are watching them: the Kyiv-based startup CODE380 has drawn attention with its handheld D·Vision SDR receiver, which picks up live video from the cameras of many Russian drones and displays it on a screen. The video is transmitted over radio without encryption, so a unit with such a receiver can see in advance where the drone is heading and what its operator is aiming at, TechCrunch reports.

What sets the device apart

According to Defense News, the device weighs about 10 ounces (roughly 280 grams) — less than half the weight of competing Ukrainian models, one of which weighs a couple of pounds. The receiver also covers the radio frequencies to which the new Russian Molniya drones switched for video transmission in June.

Warnings and limitations

The radio specialist who advises the President of Ukraine, Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov noted back in June in a Facebook post cited by Defense News that “most detectors do not see these frequencies, or see them poorly,” and warned that excessive trust in a detector can cost a life. He also cautioned that one day digital video may replace analog — and then receivers of this type will go blind. An additional risk is described by The New York Times: in August the outlet reported that some Molniya drones are controlled by AI running on Nvidia chips and emit no signals, meaning they remain invisible to radio detection.