The Russia-Ukraine war has brought technological competition to its peak, compelling both sides of this conflict to seek innovative solutions to maintain the efficiency of their unmanned systems. One of the fundamental challenges in this regard is finding methods for navigation in conditions where satellite and radio communications are unavailable.
Impact of Signal Disruptions
In Kyiv, drivers can clearly state how much modern humans rely on online navigation. This dependency becomes a significant challenge in situations where satellite navigation signals are widely disrupted. Interference and manipulation of satellite signals during the Ukraine war have been employed not only around military facilities but also across vast areas of Ukraine and Russia. The aim of these actions is to mislead the navigation systems installed on missiles and drones.
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Innovative Navigation Methods
Major Ihor Bohdan, head of the Innovation and Technology Center of the 7th Air Assault Forces of the Ukrainian Army, believes that modern warfare is gradually moving away from traditional drone guidance methods. He suggests that a combination of independent navigation methods, including inertial systems, precise cameras, and various sensors, is a promising approach. However, the development of visual navigation and machine vision in conditions where GPS is unavailable is of particular importance.
Another promising method is the creation of mesh networks for the joint operation of drones. These networks allow drones to communicate with each other by sending and receiving radio signals. Currently, Russia is actively using similar technologies for its drone attacks.
Additionally, navigation based on the inhomogeneities of the Earth's magnetic field is being developed as an advanced method, although it is not yet ready for large-scale use. Furthermore, older technologies such as radio beacon networks are also being revived and reused. These networks, by installing small transmitters in designated areas, enable drones to determine their position more accurately.
Ultimately, both sides are developing navigation systems based on their own guiding transmitters, and these technologies are expected to achieve greater efficiency in the near future. Notably, Ukraine is expanding its network of guiding transmitters across the country.
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