Ukraine – VT-40 UAV Targeting Thales’ Ground Observer 12 (GO 12)

In a post published by the Russian Pavel Sudoplatov Battalion on 18 March 2025, infrared footage showed a OWA VT-40 FPV drone targeting a German Thales Ground Observer 12 (GO 12) in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Ground Observer 12 is Thales’ lightweight, long and medium range Ground Surveillance Radar capable of detecting and tracking targets up to 27 km away.  The Ku-band, Pulse-Doppler radar is suitable for versatile applications including battlefield, border, coastal and target surveillance by military, paramilitary or civilian users. The GO 12 is also capable of directing artillery fire. 

Recently, the Ukrainian Defence Industry (UDI), known as Ukroboronprom, and Thales have established a joint venture formalised during the Munich Security Conference in February 2025. This partnership focuses on the advancement of technological solutions and providing support in defence areas, including air defence, radar systems, EW, tactical communications and electro-optical systems. Thales has previously signed three agreements with Ukrainian defence companies in June 2024 to collaborate on various defence capabilities.  

In August 2023, a German military aid package also supplied Ukraine with ten GO 12 ground surveillance radars. The GO 12 has previously been targeted by a OWA UAV in footage published in February 2024. 

For specifications on the VT-40 UAV, please contact EWS.

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