A Ukrainian military-grade drone detector widely used by the country’s Defense Forces is now available for civilian purchase as Russia steps up deadly first-person-view (FPV) drone attacks on frontline communities.
The “Chuika 3.0,” developed by Ukrainian company BlueBird Tech, is a professional radio reconnaissance device officially codified according to NATO standards.
It can detect enemy FPV drones and fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from up to 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) away, potentially before they enter the user’s line of sight.
The device is now being sold to civilians through the official Mil Tec website for Hr.30,840 ($690).
Detecting drones before they become visible
“Chuika 3.0” continuously scans the radio spectrum for analog video signals emitted by enemy drones. When it detects a threat, the device issues an audible warning and displays a live feed from the drone’s camera, helping users determine its direction of travel.
The detector can be used for personal protection or installed in public transport, municipal and utility vehicles, agricultural machinery, cafés, gas stations, stores and other businesses.
The civilian rollout comes as Russian FPV drones increasingly threaten people in frontline regions, including Kherson, Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv and Zaporizhzhia. Russian forces have used drones to target pedestrians, drivers and utility workers.
Fedorov: Chuika should be everywhere
In an interview with Ukrainian volunteer Serhii Sternenko, former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov argued that drone detectors should become a common safety tool for civilians in frontline areas.
“Chuika drone detectors should be everywhere,” Fedorov said, describing situations where people could be warned about danger while riding public transport or when children are walking to school.
“I saw this with my own eyes in the Kharkiv region,” he said.
Fedorov said civilians should have access to near-real-time information about drone threats in their area, including FPV drones, attack UAVs and potential guided aerial bomb strikes.