Western countries do not perceive FPV drones as a full-fledged type of weaponry that is worth paying attention to - such a conclusion was voiced by Yaroslav Kalinin, CEO of the Ukrainian private company Infozahyst in an interview with Defense Express, based on the results of communication with specialized companies.
Infozahyst Research and Production Cente is a Ukrainian company producing jammers, electronic intelligence (ELINT) systems, communication tools, and software for all this equipment as well.
Read more: Ukrainian Military Told How Many Targets Were Destroyed, Hit In Two Months by FPV Drones in Just One Brigade
"There is still a classic doctrine there - if it is a drone, then the wingspan should be at least 10 meters, otherwise it is not considered a drone. And FPV drones are perceived as something frivolous, like a toy," he says about his impressions after participating at AOC 2023 International Symposium and Convention in the USA.
Yaroslav Kalinin draws attention to the significant progress in the development of technologies for the combat use of FPV drones, as well as electronic intelligence (ELINT) and electronic warfare (EW), especially in the context of the fact that this is actually a security challenge for Western countries. "Both we and the russians have a deeper understanding of the problems of FPVdrones and, in general, the suppression of drone communication channels at unknown frequencies using non-standard solutions. Such a thing as a means of trench EW is something that exists in Ukraine and in the russian federation. Western companies do nothing in this direction, at least it wasn’t demonstrated, at this exhibition," Kalinin notes.
On the video from 1:21
CEO of the Infozakhist company emphasizes that there is already a need for the production and delivery of tens of thousands of such devices to the Defense Forces of Ukraine to ensure the protection of troops against FPV drones. But Western production facilities are not ready for such volumes, and the price tag set by Western companies for such equipment is inflated and does not correspond to the realities of the time.
Yaroslav Kalinin notes that today Ukrainian companies have truly unique developments that exist only in Ukraine and which previously could only be seen purely "on paper": "Ukrainian companies have the know-how, technologies and approaches that world leaders currently lack , and we can already actually implement our experience and approaches both from a practical and a commercial points of view."
"The synergy of the application of certain disciplines of radio-electronic warfare, cyber-attacks, and radio-electronic intelligence on the battlefield has received practical implementation precisely in our army and, unfortunately, in the army of our enemy," Yaroslav Kalinin notes.
We will remind, earlier it became known that in 2024 Ukraine plans to produce a million FPV drones, and, obviously, the enemy will also increase the production capacity of this weapon, as well as improve it. Therefore, there is a critical need for a timely response to the threat of enemy use of FPV drones, as well as the creation and updating of appropriate means of detecting and countering these enemy means.
Read more: What's the Chance That FPV Drones Can Replace Mortars on the Battlefield in Ukraine
