Ukrainian developers have recently conducted successful tests of FPV drones in combat situations, featuring advanced machine vision technology for automatic target tracking during the final flight phase. This innovation plays a crucial role in countering enemy electronic warfare, as operators only need to designate a target for engagement, after which the drone autonomously navigates towards it.
Volunteer Serhii Sternenko demonstrated the functionality of such drones by showcasing their ability to strike an enemy tank. He emphasized that this achievement stemmed from collaborative efforts between the 60th and 63rd mechanized brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Serhii Sternenko highlighted the novelty of this technology, acknowledging the need for refinement and scalability. To support this initiative, he called for donations towards acquiring these drones as a birthday gift, emphasizing their capability to neutralize enemy electronic warfare tactics and enhance the effectiveness of military strikes.
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The fundraising objective aims to procure over 1300 drones and invest in further technological development, with an estimated cost of 50 million UAH. This translates to approximately 38 thousand UAH per drone or nearly 1 thousand dollars. However, this cost encompasses expenses related to ongoing enhancements, including drones equipped with advanced day and night cameras, which are more expensive.
Despite the higher price tag compared to standard FPV drones priced at around 500 dollars, it’s essential to consider the cost-effectiveness of target engagement. With a conservative estimate, it typically takes 3-4 regular FPV drones to engage a single target due to potential interference from enemy electronic warfare and the operator’s skill level influencing direct hits. In contrast, drones equipped with automatic targeting not only bypass electronic warfare interference but also reduce the operator’s skill requirements. Consequently, although drones with automatic targeting are more costly initially, the overall expenses for engagement and target destruction are significantly lower compared to manual control FPV drones.
Serhii Sternenko also outlined plans to involve the state in procurement once the technology is fully developed, facilitating large-scale production. Additionally, Ukraine is exploring another promising avenue in drone development by integrating fiber optic wire for drone control. Companies like Dronarnia are actively working on producing UAVs with fiber optics, representing a potential leap in drone technology advancement.
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