Commercial drones, Starlink satellite Internet, Google Meet and Zoom services have become important tools for Ukraine’s defenders on the front lines.
The Ukrainian military receives streaming video information not at all from modern drones over communication networks worth tens of thousands of dollars. Their awareness is guaranteed by commercial UAVs, writes defenseone.com.
Drones at the front: how Matrice 30T, Mavic 3, Valkyrie are used
The Seneca unit performs a wide range of tasks for the 93rd brigade, the material says. One of the missions is to attack Russian equipment using modified drones that drop ammunition on tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, infantry fighting vehicles, etc. The unit is also engaged in reconnaissance. Working 24/7 from the command center and from positions, drone operators help identify targets for Ukrainian artillery and then adjust fire.
Drone operators select weapons based on their tasks. For night surveillance, Seneca uses a large DJI Matrice 30T, a $13,000 drone equipped with a high-quality thermal imaging camera. For basic surveillance, the $2,000 DJI Mavic 3 quadcopter is capable of flying within a kilometer or two of Russian positions. Ukrainian-made Valkyriya UAV that can stay in the air longer and fly farther than a typical DJI quadcopter.
Bad weather conditions such as snow or rain can cause drones to short out and the picture quality from their cameras will be poor, but drones are incredibly efficient. A UAV operator with the call sign “Student” told reporters that about 600 Russian soldiers were killed as a result of strikes carried out by his drones between August and December.
Ukrainian military launches drone DJI Mavic
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Photo: Screenshot
Google Meet and Zoom help keep in touch with artillery
Another officer with the call sign “Blockchain” said that the military is exchanging data with each other, which helps them act quickly. According to him, they can stay in touch thanks to instant messengers like Google Meet or Zoom, media reports.
As for drone control, for example from DJI, it is carried out through smartphones or tablets. They act as controllers – you just need to download the right software. If your device is running Android, drone footage can be easily shared via Google Meet. Ukrainian gunners, by clicking on the invitation link, can track how well-aimed their shots were, having a picture from the drone-spotter. Blockchain claims that if there are any problems, it simply generates a new invitation link and the gunners follow it. He believes that Google’s tools are well protected from hacker attacks and hacks. “Good luck hacking Google. They have much better cybersecurity than the Pentagon,” the soldier commented.
Some drones, such as the DJI Matrice 30T, do not allow you to transfer information using Android devices. In this case, operators have to turn to Zoom, which is “far from ideal”, according to Blockchain.
Soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine deploys the Starlink terminal
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Satellite Internet Starlink at war
SpaceX announced on February 9 that the use of Starlink by the Ukrainian military for offensive operations would be limited. Five days later, Seneca reported that there were indeed problems with communication, but not for long and now everything is working as usual.
According to Todd Humphreys of the University of Texas at Austin, in theory, it is possible to jam the satellite signals of the Starlink constellation. The specialist says that each Starlink terminal uses an internal GPS receiver to choose which satellites will transmit the signals it sends, so Russia’s attempts to jam GPS signals could disrupt Starlink’s operation. In March, Starlink engineers were able to cope with the attack of the Russian electronic warfare system by updating the code, the publication recalled.
Other issues are more prosaic. Before leaving for the front line on the morning of February 14, the unit had to find a terminal that was paid for. The service costs &75 per month and is sometimes paid by volunteers, volunteers, donors out of their own pockets, the article says.
The soldiers of the Seneca unit, of course, have no time to deal with technology. According to “Gray”, a 24-year-old soldier who runs the video streams, in a 24/7 combat environment, every minute is devoted to operations, analysis and training.
“We have no problem with motivation,” said Lebed, a former journalist who moved from covering the war to being directly involved in it. “But it would be nice to get some sleep.”
