Ukrainian drones will reach a new level. Newly appointed commander of the unmanned systems forces, Robert “Madiar” Brovdy, launches a major upgrade and deployment, Texty reports. 

Brovdy says 6–7 units of the Unmanned Systems Forces’ Drone Line are expected to enter the top ten most effective UAV units in the current ranking of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Over the next 100 days, Brovdy also announced the following steps:

• Deployment of a unified electronic system for planning, coordination, command, and online reporting for all USF units, 
• Expansion of USF operations into tactical and operational depth with 12 levels of application — from reconnaissance to countering enemy drones, 
• Increase in domestic production of munitions and creation of a unified supply depot for critical components such as StarLink, batteries, EW systems, and FPV parts, 
• Use of ground robotic complexes for the logistics of munitions, drones, and peripherals, 
• Execution of a unified recruitment campaign and establishment of a proprietary training network for drone pilots and operators of various systems, 
• Separate re-certification of personnel, retraining of inexperienced or unfit crews, and retraining by types of flight activities. Command aims for a clear match between functions, training, and the combat potential of each fighter.

As part of the reform of the Unmanned Systems Forces, a unified approach is planned to analyze capabilities, operational facts, and effectiveness of actions according to drone models and types of ammunition. This will form the basis for precise planning and efficient real-time supply of units.

A separate direction, details of which are not disclosed, concerns the use of UAVs at strategic depth.

In the field of technology development, the current Innovation and Development Center is undergoing transformation. Instead of functioning at the brigade level, it will serve the needs of the entire branch of the armed forces.

Ukraine’s Patrol Police Khyzhak (“Predator”) Brigade successfully demonstrated the destruction of Russian FPV drone ambushes using their own advanced drone systems, Militarnyi reported on 25 May. The unit released video footage showing how Ukrainian FPV drones identified and eliminated Russian fiber-optic-controlled UAVs positioned to ambush Ukrainian military vehicles.

According to the brigade’s press service, Russian drones were hidden along travel routes and set in standby mode, waiting to strike Ukrainian targets. Ukrainian FPV drones were deployed to locate and destroy these devices. The video also shows the use of bomber-type drones dropping munitions on enemy assets.

Constant airspace monitoring and demining

The Brigade stated:

“In addition to the direct destruction of occupiers, we constantly have to monitor the airspace in our zone of responsibility and work on remote demining of roads.”

The Russian use of fiber-optic-controlled drones, designed to evade radio-electronic reconnaissance and electronic warfare systems, poses a severe danger to Ukrainian troops, even deep behind the frontlines.

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Ukrainian long-range fiber-optic drone development

To achieve parity, the Ukrainian Defense Forces are actively developing their own fiber-optic-controlled UAVs. In April, over 15 Ukrainian UAV manufacturers tested their systems, completing obstacle-filled routes over 20 km while simulating combat conditions. The results showed a significant breakthrough: previous Ukrainian drones were limited to a range of 5–10 km, but the new systems can engage targets well beyond 20 km.