Bilberries (military drones)

2025

Development of a version of the drone for the destruction of keyless boats

Russian engineers are testing a new naval modification of the Chernik-2 unmanned aerial vehicle, designed to combat Ukrainian driverless boats. The flying wing drone was developed by Moscow specialists and is undergoing an approbation stage for use against enemy naval unmanned weapons. This became known on August 24, 2025.

According to TASS, the line of Chernika-2 drones is constantly expanding taking into account the needs of hostilities. In addition to the basic shock version, engineers created modifications with a target hold machine, an optical navigation system and a reconnaissance version with a camera on a three-axis suspension.

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Фото: tass.ru

During a special military operation, the design of the Chernika-2 series drones underwent five large-scale revisions, which significantly affected the flight characteristics of the vehicles. The main tasks of the modernization were to increase resistance to new electronic warfare means, improve resistance to impacts in flight and simplify the operation process.

At the request of combat operators, remote repeaters were developed and put into mass production. These devices expand the ability to control drones at long distances and in conditions of active electronic counteraction.

The function of changing the operating frequency range of the video communication system has been added to the drone software. Operators were able to remotely change the operating frequency directly on board the drone during the flight mission.

To improve the safety of operation of the Chernik-2 complex, engineers have developed a special ammunition cocking board. The system includes four-stage protection against unintentional initiation of the warhead, which minimizes risks during transportation and preparation for use.^[1]

Receipt by the Russian military of Chernik-2 kamikaze drones with a target assignment

At the end of April 2025, it became known that the updated Chernik-2 unmanned aerial vehicle was at the disposal of the Russian military. This kamikaze drone received a target guidance system, which ensures its performance even under the influence of electronic warfare (electronic warfare).

The drone is designed according to the "flying wing" scheme. The Chernik-2 devices can be used to strike at personnel, communication facilities, surveillance cameras and light enemy equipment. The weight of the warhead can vary from 2.5 to 3.5 kg.

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Фото: milinfolive

Endowment tools for the target allow the updated version of "Blueberries-2" to independently enter the object even if the control signal is lost and video communication is interrupted. In addition, the developers have improved the strength of the drone design to improve resistance to overloads.

The drone has a wingspan of 2.2 m. The duration of the flight with the warhead reaches 1.5 hours, the height is 1 km. The cruising speed is 60 km/h, the range is up to 100 km. Starting can be carried out using the catapult or by hand. The key advantages of the device are relatively small dimensions (for this class of UAV), mobility and ease of transportation. In the reconnaissance modification, the charge of the battery pack is enough for two hours of flight. Drones "Chernik-2" are used in the zone of a special military operation.

Earlier Russia Vladimir Putin , the president said that in 2024, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation received more than 1.5 million unmanned aerial vehicles for various tasks.

More than one and a half million drones of various types were delivered, including about 4,000 drones guided by the so-called FPV system - virtual reality - were sent to the front line every day, Putin said.[2]

2024: Deliveries of thousands of drones to the SVO zone

Since the beginning of 2022, over 4.5 thousand were delivered to the special operation zone in Ukraine. UAV "Chernik-2." This was announced on April 3, 2024 by TASS with reference to a representative of the developer company.

The Chernik-2 drone is a flying wing UAV and is capable of hitting armored vehicles, dugouts and strongholds of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The range of combat use of the device is 100 km. The drone is used along with a charge weighing 2.5 kg. With a competent strike, it is able to undermine the tank.

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Фото: Ministry of Defense of Russia

"Chernik-2" is a more advanced analogue of the drone "Chernik-1." The Blueberry-2 has a larger wingspan, it is 2.2 m. Most often, the drone is used to strike the trenches. It is distinguished by high resistance to the means of electronic warfare of the enemy. The working altitude of the drone is 1 km, and the cruising speed of the flight reaches 60 km/h.

The drone is capable of flying to the target in automatic mode, but to increase the accuracy of the defeat, control is intercepted by a person and manually brought to the target, the TASS interlocutor added.

During the same period, the developer put more than 7 thousand Chernik-1 devices in the zone of military special operation of the Russian Federation in Ukraine. Its maximum range is 80 km and its payload reaches 0.7 kg.

A special charge with explosive elements is supplied for the drone, which was also developed in Russia. "Blueberry-1" is used to defeat manpower or small cars. It breaks next to the enemy and has a defeat radius of 20 m, the company added.

Both models of drones are launched both from the catapult and from the hands. In addition, the charge has a delayed detonation function, which is used during combat missions to destroy enemy manpower.^[3][4]

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