Ukraine has launched a new artificial intelligence (AI)-powered drone system, recently used in combat for the first time.
Instead of relying on GPS, the drone uses a SmartPilot system, which guides it through visual-inertial navigation and onboard cameras.
It also uses LIDAR, a laser-based technology that measures distances and maps the surroundings in detail to boost targeting precision.
Together, these tools enable the drone’s AI to navigate and spot targets independently.
“We continue to create Ukrainian developments that change the rules of the game in technological warfare,” stated Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation.
‘Mother Drone’
The system is built around a larger drone, often called a “mother drone,” which carries and releases two smaller first-person-view drones at distances of up to 300 kilometers (186 miles).
Once deployed, the smaller drones are able to navigate on their own, identify targets, and deliver strikes against hostile aircraft, air defenses, and infrastructure.
If the mission range is under 100 kilometers (62 miles), the mother drone can return and be reused.
Fedorov noted that each mission costs about $10,000, far less than the hundreds of thousands typically spent on a single missile.
A War of Drones
Drones have become central to Ukraine’s military strategy, as they are extensively used to hit a range of enemy targets, from vehicles and bunkers to frontline troops.
The scale of drone warfare has intensified in recent weeks. In one of the largest reported attacks, Russia claimed to have intercepted nearly 150 Ukrainian drones in a single night, prompting flight suspensions at Moscow airports.
Earlier this month, Ukraine unveiled a new drone technology, the Vespa-15, capable of medium-range strikes with explosive payloads.
