Ukraine has acquired its first lightweight two-seater SHARK aircraft from Czech-Slovak firm SHARK.AERO, equipped with an electronic warfare system specifically tailored to counter drone threats like Shahed and Orlan. This aircraft should not be confused with the Ukrainian high-resolution reconnaissance drone Shark, developed by Ukrspecsystems.

Aircraft unveiled at Paris Air Show

According to Militarnyi, French aviation analyst Ate Chuet reported the delivery after meeting a SHARK.AERO representative during the 2025 Paris Air Show. The company spokesperson explained their design approach:

“We decided to create a SHARK focused on electronic warfare in Ukraine. We simply equipped it with an antenna for detecting and tracking drone threats. We can detect the electromagnetic profiles of different drones such as Shahed, Orlan, etc. Once detected, we can neutralize them with jammers mounted under the aircraft.”

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How the EW system works

The Shark’s electronic warfare (EW) suite consists of two components: one targets the GNSS positioning system, and the other jams the video and control links of drones. The jamming container is mounted under the aircraft’s fuselage, aligned with its center of mass. Operating at an altitude of 1800 meters, it can suppress enemy systems within a 4.5-kilometer radius.

Tactical capabilities against guided drones

While Shahed drones also use inertial navigation systems in addition to GNSS, such systems are primarily intended to compensate for deviations in small, jamming-affected zones. Since these systems accumulate error over time, extended jamming via airborne platforms like the Shark can significantly divert drones from their intended paths, even if it does not cause immediate failure.

The aircraft’s cruising range at 270 km/h is approximately 2,000 kilometers, and in fuel-saving mode, it can stay airborne for nearly 12 hours. The maximum speed is 300 km/h.

The Shark is also equipped with a parachute system capable of safely landing the entire aircraft in emergencies, which can be triggered by either the pilot or navigator. For high-altitude operations, it includes an oxygen generator, allowing it to fly up to 5,500 meters.