Sichen

A Ukrainian long-range, fixed-wing one-way attack drone with a stated 1,400 km range, 40 kg warhead and provisions for operation under active electronic warfare.

Overview

Sichen, Ukrainian for "January," is a long-range one-way attack drone operated by the Defence Forces of Ukraine. Ukrainian official material describes it as a kamikaze drone first used in 2023, while its publicly stated performance places it among Ukraine's domestically developed systems for striking targets deep inside Russia. The exhibited specification gives a range of up to 1,400 km, maximum speed of 200 km/h, warhead of 40 kg and maximum takeoff weight of 140 kg.

The system became publicly identifiable only when Ukraine displayed it at a Ministry of Foreign Affairs exhibition in Kyiv on 13–14 April 2026. Its maker was not named at the unveiling. Later reporting attributed production to Culver Aerospace, while a subsequent presentation by Culver and GLEFA described their Behemoth medium-range drone as a development of their earlier Sichen. The resulting attribution is credible but has not been formally confirmed by the Ukrainian government.

Sichen has been associated publicly with attacks toward Moscow and with strikes on Russian oil infrastructure, but open sources rarely distinguish its effects from those of other Ukrainian long-range drones used in the same operations. Its individual targets, production total, unit cost, guidance architecture and propulsion system therefore remain outside the public record.

🔒 The full Sichen file is for BattlePolicy Pro members. Below the line: development history, design and capabilities, variants, the combat record, advantages and limitations, comparable systems, outlook, the full specifications table, our sourcing, and the analyst assessment — procurement, suppliers and the BattlePolicy verdict. Unlock the full file with BattlePolicy Pro →