Ukraine intercepted and destroyed a rare reconnaissance drone Tax-450M from Russia, used for deep surveillance and guidance of missile attacks Iskander.
According to the website Defence Blogthe information was shared by Wild Hornetsa Ukrainian organization/company that develops interceptor drones. According to them, the interception was carried out by the unit’s operators. STRIX.
“Unit operators STRIX destroyed a rare drone equipped with optical and thermal imaging systems, used for deep aerial reconnaissance and guidance of Iskander strikes. Over the course of the war, only 10 to 20 of these UAVs were destroyed,” the company said.
The drone family Tax It is used by Russian forces for aerial reconnaissance and surveillance missions. The platform is equipped with optical and thermal imaging systems and is designed to detect and track targets under a variety of conditions, including low visibility and nighttime operations.
This type of UAV plays an important role in enabling long-range attack systems. By identifying targets and transmitting coordinates, reconnaissance drones like the Tax can withstand precision attacks by missile systems such as the Iskanderincreasing its effectiveness against fixed and moving targets.
The platform is described as having an unconventional fuselage design, including a wing shape intended to reduce radar visibility while maintaining aerodynamic efficiency.
+ AM General presents unmanned ground vehicle at AUSA 2026
The drone’s structure also minimizes protruding components, reducing the risk of damage during landing, including parachute recovery. It is designed to operate in a wide range of temperatures, from -45°C to 45°C, allowing deployment in different climates.
More detailed open source information about Tax-450M and its variants are still quite scarce. It is considered one of the least documented reconnaissance systems in Russian service.
However, we know that the reported use of Tax-450M in guiding attacks by Iskander makes him a high-value target. Disrupting such systems could degrade the effectiveness of long-range missile attacks by reducing the quality and timeliness of targeting information.
Photo: Wild Hornets. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
