ASTRA: Russia looks to GPS-free navigation for its drones

Russia may equip its drones and guided aerial bombs with a new navigation system that does not rely on GPS, according to Ukrainian drone expert and presidential adviser Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov.

Beskrestnov said the system, known as “Ariadna”, uses signals from ground-based radio beacons with known coordinates to determine the location of aircraft and drones, ASTRA reports.

Russian authorities announced the technology in December 2025, and the project has since continued to develop. The system is now being considered for use on Shahed drones and guided aerial bombs, according to Beskrestnov.

He said Ukraine was already using similar technology on reconnaissance drones, while Russian Zala drones had reportedly been capable of navigating using radio beacons since 2022.

Beskrestnov said the system could allow Russian drones and bombs to navigate up to 100km inside Ukrainian territory, potentially enabling strikes across a large part of the country.

A day earlier, he accused former Ukrainian armed forces commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and the leadership of Ukraine's electronic warfare sector of failing to develop a systematic response over the previous year to Russian drones using MESH communications.

“We are now facing strikes by jet-powered ‘Shaheds’ controlled via MESH and are trying to urgently do something with the new EW team,” he wrote.

By Aghakazim Guliyev