In the fourth year of total war with Russia, it is evident that the conflict has become a war of attrition. Faced with the enemy’s numerical superiority in personnel, equipment, and resources, Ukraine needs “warchangers” – asymmetric solutions capable of changing the rules of the game on the battlefield and depriving Russia of the ability to wage its aggressive war.
At Brave1, which is a Ukrainian governmental platform with a purpose to support defense tech developers and fast-track innovative ideas to the battlefield, we believe that innovative technologies, solutions, and their rapid implementation on the battlefield can become such warchangers that will lead us to victory in the war.
UAVs as a crucial area of defense tech development
One of the most famous and effective solutions that Ukraine has embraced are UAVs – unmanned aerial vehicles, capable of performing reconnaissance, destroying Russian manpower and vehicles and carrying out deep strikes in the enemy rear.
In fact, Ukraine’s defense strategy has been significantly shaped by the strategic deployment of UAV technology since the early stages of the Russian invasion. The effective use of innovative drone solutions, especially the widespread deployment of FPV drones, helped hold the front line during critical ammunition shortages.
Ukraine has come a long way in scaling unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) – from 7 manufacturing companies at the start of the full scale invasion, to over 500 companies with more than 1000 developments. In 2024, Ukraine manufactured over 2 mln drones, and its capacity for 2025 is estimated to be well over 4 mln UAVs. The quality control is strictly enforced – over 200 of developments are already codified according to NATO standards.
A key factor in the rapid development of the UAV sector was the effort of the Ukrainian Government, particularly the Ministry of Digital Transformation in opening the market and forming a policy to stimulate the development of innovations. As a government platform to support innovative defense tech, Brave1 has issued over 100 grants to support drone developers since its establishment. At the moment Ukraine’s Security and defense forces operate not only ordinary FPVs, but also heavy bombers, drones with AI-driven homing and other innovative types of UAVs.
Working solutions
I would like to introduce several breakthrough solutions from Ukrainian developers at Brave1 platform that the Russian military has already experienced firsthand — on the battlefield.
Interceptor drones
In response to the threat posed by Russian Orlan and Zala reconnaissance drones, which guided missile strikes on Ukrainian rear targets, Brave1 launched a competition to find a solution in April 2024. The winning solution, interceptor drones, has proven highly effective in destroying enemy reconnaissance drones mid-flight, thus limiting Russia’s ability to conduct precision strikes. One system, codified according to NATO standards with Brave1’s support, has already scored dozens of confirmed UAV kills. The military is now actively deploying these drones in Kharkiv, Sumy, Kursk, and Zaporizhzhia operational areas, where they are playing a crucial role in safeguarding Ukrainian territory and forces.
Ukrainian “Mavic”
For several years, the Chinese-manufactured DJI Mavic drones have been invaluable to Ukrainian defensive efforts on the front lines. However, its extensive use presents challenges for Ukraine, including import dependency, complex logistics, and high drone losses. To address this, Ukrainian manufacturers with the support of Brave1 have succeeded in developing domestic alternatives to the Mavic. Unlike Mavics, which are commercial drones, these models are tailored specifically to the needs of the battlefield. In particular, drones integrate communication systems that are resistant to enemy electronic warfare. A significant portion of components are also manufactured by Ukrainian producers. In addition, Ukrainian IT specialists develop the operating systems necessary to control such drones. These models have already been codified according to NATO standards. As of now, we have 15 teams and 4 codified UAVs in this area.
AI-driven UAVs
Significant advancements have been achieved in integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision into UAVs. This integration enables automatic target homing in the terminal phase of flight, following operator target lock, even in environments with electronic countermeasures. This capability effectively mitigates the impact of enemy short-range electronic warfare (EW) systems, enhancing operational effectiveness and improving the probability of hit. In 2024, recognizing the strategic advantage of this technology, the Ukrainian government initiated procurement of FPV drones equipped with AI-assisted homing. Current development efforts are focused on expanding AI-driven functionalities beyond guidance assistance, with the aim of achieving fully autonomous flight capabilities and independent target identification.
Fiber-optic drones
Russia has historically invested heavily in electronic warfare (EW) capabilities, integrating them closely with other aspects of their military operations. Following the onset of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, they significantly enhanced these capabilities, expanding the range of radio frequencies targeted to disrupt Ukrainian UAV communications. This posed a substantial challenge, diminishing the effectiveness of numerous drones, particularly FPVs, whose operational range is primarily confined to the front lines and immediate rear areas.
In response to this evolving threat, Ukrainian developers have pioneered the use of fiber-optic controlled drones, which are immune to EW interference. Currently, 11 fiber-optic UAV models have been successfully codified according to NATO standards, with 15 more in the final stages of the codification process. Furthermore, around 10 development teams are actively preparing the necessary documentation to pursue NATO codification. Brave1 supports these efforts by offering expert consultation, facilitating testing procedures, and ensuring seamless integration of these technologies into military operations. Ukrainian military units are already deploying these advanced drones on the battlefield, demonstrating their crucial role in negating Russian EW tools.
Aerostats
Despite over a century of use, aerostats remain an effective tool even in high-tech warfare. While specific details of their application are highly classified, it is evident that they play a critical role in various tasks. Usage scenarios include providing reliable communication across vast areas, relaying drone signals, facilitating logistics in difficult-to-access regions, and even conducting operations behind enemy lines. Furthermore, we are observing the use of aerostats to overwhelm enemy air defense and missile defense systems, as well as to execute strike missions. Though many aspects remain classified, aerostats have demonstrably contributed to combat operations, enabling some of our units’ most significant operational successes. At the moment, we have 5 solutions, codified according to NATO standards.
Aerostat
Future warchangers
Technology is advancing rapidly, and getting a one-time advantage over the enemy is insufficient. Russia has more resources and capabilities to scale existing solutions, so it is absolutely crucial to always remain one step ahead of the enemy. Fortunately, we also possess several advantages over Russia – we have an open market with a multitude of developers and the opportunity for cooperation with the world’s leading defense tech companies.
A pivotal shift is occurring on the battlefield: a transition to drone-on-drone and drone-first warfare, where machines are increasingly empowered with autonomy. As one captured Russian soldier recounted to our forces, they were the first Ukrainians he had actually seen; prior to that, his only encounters on the battlefield were with drones.
We are currently focused on developing the following high-potential solutions to bring crucial changes on the battlefield:
Drone swarms
To amplify the strategic advantage that drones bring to the table, we are moving beyond the traditional “one drone—one operator” model and embracing drone swarm technology. This approach allows a single operator to manage multiple UAVs that coordinate through AI-driven, autonomous intelligent networks. Several teams are working on developing this technology for use in real combat scenarios. We are convinced that this is the future of warfare and that maintaining a lead in this domain is crucial.
Relay drones
Relay drones are a promising technology that provides new capabilities for Ukrainian forces. By ascending high into the sky, they ensure stable communication, enabling reconnaissance and strike drones to operate deep behind enemy lines and disregard obstacles such as slag heaps (which Donetsk region of Ukraine has an abundance of), hills, or urban development. The innovative concept of relay drones eliminates the need for ground-based relay masts, reducing the risk of detection and threats to military personnel.
Certain types of commercial drones can be used as relay carriers, but due to logistical challenges, their unsuitability for combat, and high costs, the development of specialized solutions is key. Recently, Brave1 conducted a large-scale testing event for relay drones, with over 20 Ukrainian teams participating. The developers tested the ability of their products to autonomously take off, perform flight, land, and hover motionless in the air above a given point using optical stabilization technology that works without GPS, making them suitable for use in electronic warfare (EW) conditions. They also tested drones powered by mains to increase flight duration, and drones with night optical stabilization to minimize drone losses at night.
Drone carriers
In contemporary warfare, speed, precision, and extended range are paramount. Drone carriers have emerged as a critical force multiplier for Ukrainian troops, enabling them to engage targets at considerable distances, reaching up to 100 kilometers.
Drone carriers are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), either fixed-wing or multirotor, designed to transport and deploy multiple FPV drones. They also act as communication relays, facilitating seamless control between operators and the deployed FPV drones. Fixed-wing drone carriers can operate at extended ranges, up to 100 kilometers, with typical operational ranges between 40 and 70 kilometers, while operators maintain a safe distance from hostile areas while directing operations. The carrier drone delivers FPV drones, which can then strike targets such as electronic warfare systems, air defense units, or command centers within a 3-7 kilometer radius of the deployment point, which provide a cost-effective solution for precision strikes against high-value targets.
Developers are continually refining these systems, focusing on extending their operational range, improving communication reliability, and reducing production costs. Brave1 is actively supporting 15 development teams, with four teams having successfully validated their designs under real combat conditions.
Relentless innovation for the victory
All these developments exemplify Ukraine’s ingenuity and commitment to maintaining a strategic edge over Russian invaders. UAVs represent a fundamentally new military solution, unconstrained by legacy military technology approaches, and actively leverage cutting-edge technologies from civilian applications. We anticipate that similar approaches will extend to other domains of military technology; indeed, we are already witnessing this with unmanned ground vehicles—land-based robots that provide logistics, reconnaissance, and fire support to Ukrainian troops.
The takeaway is that Ukraine is not simply adapting to modern warfare but actively shaping its trajectory. The ultra-fast development-deployment-improvement cycle, driven by real-time battlefield feedback, is a key innovation, underscoring Ukraine’s strategic vision. By fostering an open market, supporting developers with grants and expertise, and ensuring direct battlefield feedback, Brave1 is accelerating the shift toward a drone-centric warfare paradigm.
As technology continues to advance, the air domain will remain a critical theater of action. Ukraine’s ability to sustain a technological lead will be paramount in neutralizing Russia’s numerical advantages, ensuring that the skies above remain a domain of Ukrainian strength.