Drone mistaken for Shahed: mysterious Ukrainian UAV burning targets in Russia

In early August, footage of a strike near Novorossiysk drew attention to an unknown drone that resembled the Iranian Shahed in appearance. In fact, this is the Ukrainian Michigan 2000, a long-range strike vehicle created on the basis of a Chinese platform and already used by the SBU's Alpha unit, writes Oberonko. The publication reports that the history of Michigan 2000 began in 2023 when a Ukrainian team traveled to China with the task of acquiring ready-made civilian drones for the needs of the defense forces. At one of the enterprises, developers drew attention to the ZITKE-150 unmanned platform similar to the Shahed. Initially, the plan was to purchase only off-the-shelf devices. However, after reviewing the design, the team changed its approach. Instead of simply purchasing Chinese drones, the decision was made to use the experience gained to create our own platform in Ukraine. Initially, acquiring the technology was unsuccessful because the Chinese factory's management prohibited its sale. However, the intermediaries negotiating on the Chinese side were eager to close the deal and found a workaround. They were willing to assemble the drones elsewhere where there were no export restrictions. In addition, they offered to train drone operators, which the Ukrainian team took advantage of. As a result, a Chinese drone and trained pilots returned to Ukraine. Work then began on a domestic version of the aircraft. The development of Michigan 2000 was not limited to a simple adaptation of the Chinese model. The first tests conducted in 2024 revealed a number of problems both in the platform design and in the electronics used. Engineers began making consistent modifications to the device. The team mastered the production of their own housings, replaced electronic components, and redesigned various structural elements. Thus, the initial Chinese model gradually evolved into a separate Ukrainian project. The Michigan 2000's first combat flight took place in October 2024. Following the test, the SBU's Alpha Special Operations Center approved further production of the drone. From this point on, the project moved from the experimental development stage to serial production of devices for the unit. The developers claim that the drone has undergone significant changes during the project's development. The airframe, engines, and a significant portion of other components are manufactured in Ukraine. Depending on the specific configuration, local content can reach 85% of the drone's cost. The manufacturer claims a maximum flight range of up to 2,000 km. However, the specific characteristics of the device depend on the selected modification and its intended purpose. The drone is capable of carrying various payloads, and the company offers several configurations. The manufacturer's catalog includes eight Michigan 2000 modifications. The company estimates that its current production capacity allows for the production of approximately 6,000 drones per year. This figure is planned to increase to 10,000 units annually. To date, the Michigan 2000 has already destroyed hundreds of targets in the Russian Federation. In parallel, developers are working on a new platform, Michigan Plus. According to its creators, the new device is intended to occupy a different segment, the mid-strike, meaning it will be designed to perform missions at shallower operational depths than long-range deep-strike platforms. >> Mhm.