V2U

V2U is a Russian autonomous unmanned aircraft system equipped with an Nvidia Jetson Orin processor running YOLOv5 object detection, enabling it to identify and engage targets without continuous operator input. A CSIS analysis published on 17 April 2026 found that 69% of memory hardware and 57% of processors in Russia's AI drone ecosystem are sourced from US firms, with only 9% from Chinese suppliers. This dependence on Western chips despite export controls highlights grey-market supply chain resilience.

V2U represents the advanced tier of Russia's drone arsenal, using commercial AI-inference hardware repurposed for battlefield target recognition. The Jetson Orin chip was designed for autonomous vehicles and robots; its presence in a Russian military drone illustrates how dual-use technology flows directly from commercial AI development into weapons systems.