When Russian jamming disabled reconnaissance drones flown by a group of Ukrainian special operators near Dnipro in August, they turned to a new solution: V-BAT drones built to withstand massive electronic interference used by both sides in the Ukraine war.
“They took off about 40 kilometers from the front, flew over the troops’ front line for 100 kilometers and then found these SA-11 surface-to-air missiles (activated) 11 Bukstargeted them and launched HIMARS aerial strikes,” said Brandon Tseng, president and co-founder of Shield AI, the San Diego-based maker of the V-BATs.
This destroyed the SAMs and, Tseng said, marked a big operational test for the V-BATs: flying, collecting targeting data and transmitting it to artillery units, all in the face of the most sophisticated electronic warfare tactics in the world.
Ukraine has a few drones that can work well against electronic warfare, but they work because of their autonomy and on-platform computing, perfect for one-way attack missions with whatever munitions can be carried. But the ability to quickly transmit data to a firing solution with real power, such as a howitzer or a Lockheed Martin HIMARSis essential to eliminate Russian positions. This is what the V-BAT provided to the Ukrainians, according to Tseng, who witnessed the operation firsthand.
The V-BAT’s 300-mile range, even in the face of anti-aircraft defenses, gave the Ukrainians a new view of the battlefield.
“They were able to collect intelligence that they had never collected before because they had a long-endurance aircraft that could observe things for long periods of time,” Tseng said in an interview Thursday. “It absolutely blew them away, because even though they had aircraft, weapons systems that could go 60 kilometers, maybe 100 kilometers, the on-station dwell time was about 10.15 minutes for So when you compare it to us wandering around for eight, 9, 10, 11 hours, you know, once we get to the station… you just have the time you need to find. many targets.
Tseng and his team at Shield AI initially brought the drones to Ukraine to test the effects of electromagnetic warfare in June.
Drones have proven capable of operating in saturated environments in a way that others could not, according to a June report. report from the Ukrainian army obtained by Defense One.
“We flew within 1,000 meters of these jammers. No impact on our planes. It’s been a real success,” Tseng said.
But these June results did not have the persuasive effect Tseng hoped for.
“There were skeptics on the NATO side, on the American side, who said, ‘You know, no one has passed this test. All drones fail here; you’re going to be like everyone else.’
They insisted on real battlefield experience against the enemy. Tseng’s account was backed up by a Ukrainian operator who spoke At Wall Street Journal THURSDAY. In August, Tseng too testified before Congress on the success of the battlefield deployment.
There is no silver bullet to bring victory to Ukraine, Defense Ministry officials regularly remind the public, often when discussing why they refuse to supply certain weapons (or refuse permission to use them as the Ukrainians would like). Despite this, some common themes emerge after years of war. Ukraine’s success against the larger Russian army rests largely on its ability to move more quickly, fire shells and maneuver quickly to dodge Russian counterfire. But the Russians learn quickly.
The Russians are far better supplied with munitions, a problem exacerbated by continuing debates among Western allies over whether to provide Ukraine with what observers say it needs.
V-BAT helps alleviate both of these issues. First, its size – small enough to fit in an SUV – and vertical takeoff help the Ukrainians move and shoot.
“Airstrips and airfields are targeted. They are observed. They are monitored and are therefore only very vulnerable points. So if your plane needs a landing strip, it’s really not a good place to be,” Tseng said.
And because the V-BAT can transmit not only targeting data but also combat damage assessment, it helps Ukrainian forces make the most of their limited munitions.
Without electronic warfare-enhanced drones, Tseng said, “they don’t know if they’re hitting objects most of the time.”
Tseng said the next step would be to integrate missiles on the drone itself.
“We launched, organically from the V-BAT, a Northrop Grumman munition called Hatchet, which is a laser-guided munition that was a prototype capability (for) kinetic board effects, will be launched late next year.