Ukrainian drones start to fall mysteriously. Germany cracks the case
For several months, drones provided by the German tech firm Quantum Systems performed flawlessly within the Ukrainian army, detecting enemy tanks and soldiers. However, toward the end of last year, these machines started to descend from the skies unexplainably, right after completing their missions. As it turned out, the cause of this issue was more complex than initially thought.
11:52 AM EST, November 24, 2023
"That was the mystery," said Sven Kruck, the director of Quantum, who was contacted by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense demanding a resolution.
The company's engineers discovered that the Russians were tampering with the connection between the drones and the satellites they relied upon for navigation. This interference caused the drones to lose their bearings and plummet. As "The Sydney Morning Herald" reported, Quantum developed software based on artificial intelligence to combat these actions. This software is an ancillary pilot and allows for manual control, making it possible to land the drones using an Xbox controller. Additionally, the tech firm established a repair service center to monitor and counteract Russian electronic attacks.
"The only thing we could do was to gather information from the operators, investigate the malfunction, test, and then retry," Kruck explained.
As stated by "The Sydney Morning Herald", this dilemma showcases the "clandestine battle happening within the sphere of electromagnetic waves in Ukraine, wherein radio signals are being used to disturb communication links between drones and soldiers, pinpoint targets, and mislead guided weapons." This method is known as electronic warfare. It transpires as a "cat and mouse game" between Russia and Ukraine, subtly shifting the dynamics of the ongoing war.
"The Russians have been more resourceful than what their ground operations might suggest," noted James Lewis, a former US official who writes about technology and security for the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. He warns that this should arouse concern within NATO.
