BlueBird Tech has announced the launch of an upgrade program for owners of the portable drone detector 'Chuyka 3.0'. According to the publication, the upgrade expands the frequency capabilities of already-released devices without the need to purchase new equipment. Open-source photographs show that the detector is a compact unit with several antennas, including a distinctive blue three-pronged antenna marked 'BlueBird', and a display showing a radar-style picture. The device is placed in a protective case with foam cradles, underscoring its field, mobile-purpose design.
A fourth frequency band and spectrum expansion
The key innovation of the upgrade is the addition of a fourth frequency band to the 'Chuyka 3.0': from 6 to 8.8 GHz. At the same time, the existing 3.3 GHz band is also widened: where it previously covered the 2870–4080 MHz interval, after the upgrade its boundaries shift to 2860–4500 MHz. Taken together, this means the device begins to 'see' a noticeably wider frequency spectrum and now operates across four bands instead of three. For a video-signal detector aimed at intercepting and detecting FPV drones, this increases the likelihood of capturing communication and video-transmission channels that operators are increasingly shifting into new frequency windows to evade countermeasures.
How the upgrade is carried out
The procedure follows a 'bring it in — get it back' principle. If needed, the user hands over their 'Chuyka 3.0' to the BlueBird Tech team, where engineers install an additional module for the new band, the corresponding antenna and battery, and also upgrade the existing 3.3 GHz module and antenna. Once the work is complete, the owner receives their own device, but now with expanded specifications. This approach preserves the serial identity and calibration of the specific unit rather than replacing it with a new one, which matters for users accustomed to the particular settings and interface of their detector.
Who can get the 'upgrade' and how long it takes
An important limitation: as of now, the upgrade is available for 'Chuyka 3.0' models purchased from April 2026 onward, specifically for firmware version 1.3.8. That said, it is noted that engineers are already working on extending the upgrade option to other versions of the device. The estimated upgrade time is up to two weeks. Owners can sign up for the update through the BlueBird Tech mobile app or directly through the company's managers. This creates a 'development-as-a-subscription' model for the detector market, in which the initial purchase becomes an entry point into a line of subsequent improvements.
Context: why the frequency upgrade matters now
Expanding the detector's frequency capabilities fits into the broader context of escalating drone warfare, in which both sides constantly change the communication frequency windows of FPV aircraft to evade electronic warfare and interception systems. Ukrainian media previously reported on the introduction of the first jet-powered drone interceptor into service and on the completion of development of the first gliding bomb KAB 'Vyравnovatel' (Balancer) after a year and a half of work. Against this backdrop, the detector's ability to 'see' a wider spectrum — from 3.3 to 8.8 GHz — becomes a practical tool for air-defense operators and field teams who need to detect enemy drones' video-transmission channels in advance.
