In 2024, fast and maneuverable drones have become the key weapon of the Ukrainian defense, which are an effective means of combating massive ground attacks by the Russian Federation.
And already in 2025, more automated UAVs using modern technologies are expected to appear on the battlefield.
This is stated in the material The Wall Street Journal.
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Automation of Drones and the Focus on Maintaining Human Control
Andriy Zvirko, director of strategy at Sine.Engineering, a company that develops drone technologies, says that the main focus remains on maintaining human control.
According to the publication, automation can help Ukraine effectively counter a larger adversary, even if Western partners reduce arms supplies.
Ukrainian companies are gradually using innovations aimed at facilitating UAV control. This approach reduces the skill level for operators and simultaneously increases efficiency. Similar principles have long been in place in other industries, such as aviation, automotive, or e-commerce.
As stated in the article, Ukraine is using a ten-level system for the gradual introduction of drone automation and is already using models that can autonomously target using computer vision.
— We are moving gradually, adapting technologies for mass production only after their practical benefits have been confirmed, — says Maksym Makarchuk, head of the AI department of the Brave1 platform.
According to the publication, in 2024, Ukraine produced more than a million small drones, most of them FPV drones, which have become a key tool on the front.
As the publication writes, the main obstacles for UAVs are electronic warfare systems that suppress signals and prevent drones from being guided.
However, as the publication writes, Ukrainian developers are working to solve problems related to electronic warfare systems.
The article talks about the Sine company, which has developed a module that helps to automatically avoid interference using multi-frequency communication channels. Sine has also developed a navigation system that can accurately determine the location of the UAV even without a GPS signal.
Advanced technologies increase the effectiveness of combat operations. At the same time, the integration of homing systems allows one operator to control several UAVs at once, which simplifies the control process.
— Everything we do here is aimed at reducing the qualification requirements for users, — says Andrey Chulik, co-founder of Sine.
Recall that the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense recently tested UAVs on fiber-optic cables, which are effective in conditions of active electronic countermeasures.
