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Ukraine Claims Development of Upgraded Mavic Drones
Ukrainian developers have reportedly created four enhanced versions of the Chinese-made Mavic drone, a widely used tool on the front lines. These upgraded drones are designed for reconnaissance missions behind enemy lines and boast resistance to electronic warfare. The development comes after China limited the export of crucial drone components.
The Ukrainian government-backed defense innovation program, Brave1, stated that three domestic developers have produced drones meeting NATO standards. Some of these are already in use by Ukrainian troops.
The Mavic drone, originally intended for personal and commercial use, has become a staple in the Ukraine conflict. However, supply chain issues and high loss rates, sometimes reaching five drones per day in some units, spurred Ukraine to seek alternatives.
New Drones Enhance Capabilities
Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation unveiled the new drone models. Brave1 asserts these drones provide superior situational awareness for the military. The goal is to ramp up production and eventually replace the Mavic drones entirely.
One of the new drones, the Shmavik, reportedly has a flight time of up to an hour, a range of over nine miles, and can carry over two pounds. Its primary function is frontline reconnaissance and live video streaming.
Another upgraded model, the Ukropter, boasts a payload capacity exceeding four pounds, a flight time of up to an hour, and a speed of approximately 46 miles per hour. These specs surpass the capabilities of the standard Mavic drone. Developers claim the Ukropter has proven highly effective in trials, contributing to saving Ukrainian lives.
Reducing Reliance on China
Experts emphasize the critical role of these small drones in the current phase of the conflict, comparing their importance to artillery. Ukraine’s ability to produce its own drones is seen as vital, especially given the challenges in obtaining Chinese-made models.
The move towards domestic drone production is viewed as a positive step for Ukraine, potentially reducing its reliance on Chinese military components. However, questions remain about the origin of some components and the scalability of Ukraine’s domestic production to meet demand.