The war in Ukraine is a “technology war.” Unmanned aerial vehicles are integrated into every stage of hostilities. In this section, you can learn about the main commercial drones needed by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and which ones are adapted to military needs with the help of technical solutions (reflashing).
UAVs are divided into two types: flying on the principle of an airplane; and those that fly like a helicopter.
In addition to commercial drones, there are also kamikaze drones, attack (combat) drones, and reconnaissance drones. But in this section, we will focus on commercial quadcopters.
Drones are urgently needed. Any military unit strives to have at least one, and preferably two quadcopters. The servicemen understand the importance of this device and also take into account the possibility of losing a drone due to enemy Electronic Warfare (EW).
According to Valery Yakovenko, the founder of the Ukrainian company for the sale of drones “DroneUA”, the Ukrainian Defense Forces use more than 6000 drones every day for reconnaissance.
Experienced military personnel claim that one drone replaces 20 tourniquets. This is because the UAV helps avoid the enemy or warns about the enemy from a distance. This makes it possible to better prepare for a combat encounter, to prevent the personnel from getting hurt, and to avoid casualties.
Here are the most popular commercial drone models:
- DJI Mavic 3
- DJI MAVIC 3 Fly More Combo
- DJI Matrice 30T
- DJI Matrice 300
- Autel EVO II 640T
If you are handing over a drone to the military, follow these guidelines:
- clearly ask for the model of the required quadcopter. There are many various modifications having different functions. Thus, Autel EVO II Pro Rugged Bundle V2 can be without a thermal imager, and DJI Matrice 300 without additional batteries
- ask what accessories you need to buy additionally. For example, spare batteries or another remote control will always come in handy
- Find out whether this military unit really needs a drone. For example, air defense usually does not need commercial drones.
In the war in Ukraine, drones became an integral part of combat operations. They allow you to conduct battlefield reconnaissance, adjust artillery fire, help conduct counter-battery warfare and control large territories. These are the “eyes” on the front line which help to save thousands of lives of soldiers and civilians.