Ukrainian defense companies Culver Aerospace and GLEFA have fielded the Behemoth, a medium-range strike drone built for operations that challenge conventional air defense layers.
The system was presented publicly on May 21, 2026. UNITED24 Media and sUAS News both recorded the unveiling and confirmed prior combat deployment against Russian targets.
The Behemoth flies at 170-180 km/h and maintains altitudes between 90 and 300 meters to reduce radar acquisition time. It carries a 75 kg tandem thermobaric warhead that pairs a shaped-charge precursor with a thermobaric main charge for hardened-target effects.
Starlink terminals supply beyond-line-of-sight command links, while the airframe supports both first-person-view piloting and fully autonomous navigation. These modes allow operators to adapt to electronic warfare conditions or pre-program strike routes when communications are contested.
Defender Media confirmed on LinkedIn that the drone has already completed operational missions. Its design mirrors the low-observable, terrain-following profile of Shahed-type munitions but adds greater payload flexibility and redundant guidance.
For U.S. law enforcement and corrections agencies evaluating counter-UAS requirements, the Behemoth’s combination of range, low-altitude flight, and resilient satellite communications illustrates the evolving threat envelope. Detection windows shrink when platforms remain below 300 meters and employ autonomous terminal guidance, while Starlink connectivity complicates traditional radio-frequency jamming approaches.
Technical assessments should prioritize layered sensors capable of low-altitude tracking, acoustic and thermal detection nodes, and rapid data fusion between radar and electro-optical systems. Agencies responsible for critical infrastructure or large custodial facilities will need updated response protocols that account for 300 km stand-off launch distances and 75 kg class warheads.
