Next up is a nuclear drone: Ukraine launches 'mother drone' for the first time to strike at Russian rear
Ukraine has tested an autonomous "mother drone" that can fly deep into the enemy's rear (up to 300 km) and launch FPV strike drones there - inexpensively, accurately and without unnecessary noise.
Here's What We Know
The Kyiv-based technology company StratForce (Strategy Force Solutions) has reported successful combat tests of autonomous Gogol-M "mother drones" that launch FPV strike drones at targets deep in the rear of Russian troops.
According to the company's CTO, one "mother drone" can launch two FPV drones that operate independently using the SmartPilot system. After completing the mission, the drone returns to the base.
StratForce emphasises that the cost of one such mission is about $10,000. This allows them to achieve the effect previously achieved by missiles costing ten times more. No video of the strikes has been published yet, but the company describes it as "the next evolution of drone warfare".
The launching catapult for the Gogol-M. Illustration: StratForce Solutions
SmartPilot is an artificial intelligence enhanced by cameras, LIDAR and other sensors. The system does not depend on GPS and allows the drone to act autonomously: find targets, make decisions and adjust the route in flight. All of this is done without human intervention.
The drones can land near a target, wait for hours, and then attack at the right time - for example, when an enemy aircraft appears on the runway or when a convoy of vehicles moves in the rear. The company is already capable of producing 50 queen cells and 400 FPV drones per month, and the first field tests, they say, have been "positive".
"It's like a self-driving car. There aren't many obstacles in the air, but the system needs to be lightweight. That's how we came up with our camera, LIDAR, and communication system to allow the AI to navigate, coordinate, and manoeuvre," the CTO explained.
Source: Forbes
