Ukraine's race for drone dominance against Russian surveillance

The Defence Technology Development Cluster "Brave1," supported financially by the Ukrainian authorities, announced on April 3 a competition to construct an unmanned fighter drone. The primary mission of this drone will be to counter Russian unmanned aircraft such as the ZALA or Orlyan models.

"Brave1," operating in Ukraine with state backing, is focused on finding technological solutions to give the Ukrainian Armed Forces an edge. Among its duties is offering organizational, informational, and financial support for defence technology projects within Ukraine.

At the start of April, "Brave1" revealed a competition to build an unmanned fighter drone for the Ukrainian military. This technology aims to combat enemy surveillance drones without wasting valuable Air Force assets. The requirements for the drone include the ability to fly at speeds of 100-150 km/h (about 62-93 mph) and reach altitudes up to 1,500 metres (approximately 4,921 ft). The winner of the competition will get support for project development and completion.

The unmanned fighter drones Ukraine aims to acquire are seen as a cost-effective method for countering Russian surveillance drones. The Military Portal has noted that these enemy drones can now operate "up to 50-60 km (about 31-37 miles) behind the front line," gathering crucial data on Ukrainian positions, command systems, supply columns, and military equipment locations. This intel is then used to direct attacks and destruction of these targets.

"Brave1" indicates that the upcoming Ukrainian unmanned fighter drone is intended to confront UAVs like the ZALA, Orlyan, or SuperCam models. Notably, ZALA drones, produced by the Zala Group, part of the Kalashnikov Group, rank among Russia’s most deadly unmanned aircraft. Russia deploys the Lancet-3 model, for instance, to demolish Ukrainian positions and equipment.

The Lancet-3 can carry payloads up to 3 kg (about 6.6 lbs), with a maximum takeoff weight of 12 kg (around 26.4 lbs). This device can travel up to 110 km/h (about 68 mph), has a range of 40 km (approximately 25 miles), and its operational time is nearly 40 minutes. With such capabilities, plus optoelectronic guidance for controlling ammunition just before hitting the target, the Lancet-3 poses a significant threat to Ukrainian forces.