Aerorozvidka
FormationFirst established in 2014, registered in July 13, 2020 (2020-07-13)
FounderVolodymyr Kochetkov-Sukach
TypeNon-governmental organization
PurposeTo assist Ukrainian security and defense forces in Russo-Ukrainian War
Region served
 Ukraine
LeaderYaroslav Honchar (since 2023)
Websitehttps://aerorozvidka.ngo/
RemarksAreas of activity:

Aerorozvidka (Ukrainian: Аеророзвідка, "aerial reconnaissance") is a team and NGO that promotes creating and implementing netcentric and robotic military capabilities for the security and defense forces of Ukraine. Aerorozvidka specialises in aerial reconnaissance and drone warfare.[1] It was founded in May 2014 by a team which included Ukrainian battalion commander Natan Chazin.[2] Its founder, Volodymyr Kochetkov-Sukach, was an investment banker who was killed in the Russo-Ukrainian War in 2015.

Foundation

Aerorozvidka began as a group of volunteer drone and IT enthusiasts, which eventually evolved later into a military unit.[3][4] It has been termed a "war startup" by the Atlantic Council.[2]

When the occupation of Crimea by Russia started in 2014, Natan Khazin, the leader of the "Jewish Regiment"[5] of the Euromaidan and a soldier of the first "Azov" formation, began to look for opportunities for the technical armament of the Ukrainian army. After an unsuccessful trip to Israel, where he was refused help, he turned to his friend from Maidan for help. This friend was making panoramic shots from a DJI Phantom drone. The videoclip "Ukraine through the eyes of a drone", produced with his contribution, has gained over a million views on YouTube. It was from this drone, which he has gifted to the volunteers, Aerorozvidka began.[6]

The first testing of UAV by Aerorozvidka, 2014.
The first logo of Aerorozvidka, 2014.

Volodymyr Kochetkov-Sukach took this drone and went to the "Aidar" battalion, where it received a positive feedback. Later Yaroslav Honchar undertook to adapt the device for action in combat conditions, which he did in cooperation with the Krok computer academy. As a result, the flight range of Ukrainian drones increased from 300 meters to 3 kilometers (1000 feet to 2 miles). Aircraft modeling clubs, individual amateurs and commercial organizations also contributed into this. The devices were continuously improved and were used in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and in volunteer battalions.[6]

Status and cooperation

At the beginning of its activity, the Aerorozvidka volunteer group already had cooperated with the Armed Forces, the Internal Troops and the National Guard of Ukraine as well as with the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. Later, the Aerorozvidka community members joined intelligence units in groups.[7]

One of the combat units, among which are members and founders of Aerorozvidka, 2015.

In December 2015, members of Aerorozvidka joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the form of military unit A2724 called the Center for the Implementation and Support of Automated Operational (Combat) Control Systems. The unit was formed from the Aerorozvidka group volunteers, which worked at that time in separate intelligence units 74 and 131.[7] The new unit joined the Communications and Cyber Security Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. However, in 2020, on the initiative of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine liquidated this military unit.[8][9][10] In the NATO system, the unit is classified as C4ISR (command, control, communications, IT (computers), intelligence, surveillance, instrumental intelligence).[11]

In July 2020, the volunteer group members registered the NGO "Aerorozvidka" in Ukraine.[12][13]

In March 2021, a reorganization takes place, after which the A2724 military unit is restored in the structure of the Ministry of Defense.[14] One part of the unit, which worked in the direction of video surveillance, comes under the command of the Joint Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Later, by the end of 2021, the Center for Innovations and Defense Technologies[15] is also separated (from 2022 it appears in official sources under the name Center for Innovations and Development of Defense Technologies[16][17][18][19]). The other part of the former military unit A2724 becomes the scientific staff of the Military Institute of Telecommunications and Information Technologies.[9]

Current activities

As of 2022, the activities of Aerorozvidka included:

  • development, testing and implementation of automated control tools, primarily the Delta situational awareness system;[20][21][22]
  • development, testing, implementation and application of various sensors for the situational awareness system, in particular video surveillance;[23][24][25][26]
  • designing and operation of multirotor unmanned aerial vehicles;
  • promoting the reforms of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, primarily regarding the implementation of the C4ISR system;
  • cooperation with state authorities on the development of capabilities of the security and defense forces of Ukraine for the integration of Aerorozvidka veterans into civilian life;
  • implementation of other scientific and technical projects and application of military experience in civilian spheres (e.g., in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone;[25][26][27] participation in international events: CWIX,[28] Sea Breeze, Rapid Trident[9][29]).

Drones

In August 2014, Volodymyr Kochetkov-Sukach reported that Aerorozvidka already produces alternative unmanned aerial vehicles for the needs of Ukrainian military in ATO zone, taking standard copters available in stores as a basis, modernizing them. After that, drones are suitable for tactical reconnaissance. The devices worked on the front lines in five detachments and showed good results: they transmitted data, photos with geotags at a distance of up to 2 km. This is enough for the commander to make a decision to send the detachment.[30]

Prototype of R18 octocopter developed by Aerorozvidka, 2015.
R18 drone test bombing via RKG-1600 in "Shyrokyi Lan" range, 2020.

In 2016, Aerorozvidka launched a program to develop the first prototypes of unmanned aerial vehicles. In 2019 the model was fully tested in combat on the east of Ukraine. By 24 February 2022, 50 sets of R18 octocopters,[31] which have eight motors for greater reliability, have been manufactured.[32] Copters are capable of vertical take-off and landing,[33] have range of 5 km (3 miles), can stay in the air for about 40 minutes and carry 5 kg (11 lbs) of payload. Ukrainian and imported components are used for construction. Drones were originally developed to deliver medicine and food, however the Russian invasion on 24 February 2022 changed the way they are used. Those drones are now often used as bombers, with Soviet cumulative anti-tank grenades RKG-3 or RKG-1600 are used as projectiles.[34][35][36] The R18 drone can carry three of such grenades.[37][38][39][40][41][42][43]

Apart from that, Aerorozvidka accumulates third-party drones, which combat units use for reconnaissance and adjusting artillery fire.[31][33][44] These include, in particular, commercial DJI[45][46] and Autel drones, which usually come as volunteer aid. PD-1,[40] Leleka-100[47] and other drones[11] are also purchased for use in the warfare.

Aerorozvidka claims that as of 2022, the use of drones in the warfare became commonplace. However, they are a consumable material, just like cartridges, because they can be destroyed. At the same time, the difference in cost between Aerorozvidka drones and the rival equipment destroyed by them, is very large. Also, destroying rival equipment by those drones saves the lives of civilians and Ukrainian servicemen.[32]

Drones often do not last for long before they are shot down mid-flight, however they still provide tactical importance during the day or two of their operational life nonetheless. Consumer drones with a retail value of approximately $1,000 are already suitable for a range of tasks such as carrying explosives, observing military units, and targeting artillery. The former hobbyist drone pilots also rebuild damaged drones, perform modifications to make them easier to fly, and train soldiers to fly them. As some sources do not explicitly refer to Aerorozvidka, more similar groups of drone enthusiasts may be active in Ukraine.[48]

The Russian invasion in 2022

During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, pilot squads have been targeting Russian forces at night while immobile.[1][49] On February 24, 2022, a large column of Russian military equipment moved toward Kyiv from Belarus along the right bank of the Dnieper river. On that day, the Ukrainian military units met the enemy near the town of Hostomel.[3][33][50] In order to prevent the encirclement of the Ukrainian capital, the Ukrainian military units, supported by Aerorozvidka drones, attacked Russian troops from the direction of the town of Malyn. After the first few hits, Russian troops dispersed their large columns into groups of 5 to 10 vehicles. Ukrainian has also successfully destroyed the enemy’s military depots and cut the supply chains.[51] The unit's commander, Lt Col Yaroslav Honchar, is an ex-soldier turned IT marketing consultant. He returned to the army after the first Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2014.[37][38][52][53]

With the help of drones and Starlink terminals, Ukrainian forces have stopped a long Russian military convoy. The level of coordination, provided with the help of drones and Starlink terminals enabled the Ukrainian military to stop the Russian advance. Activists of Aerorozvidka say that stable high-speed connection was only possible thanks to Starlink terminals.[54] Later the Ukrainian military units started working with octocopters R18,[50] as well as other drones and Starlink terminals in other areas of the combat zone.[41] Their communication is organized through the system of situational awareness "Delta".[31][53]

Interesting facts

  • The term "aerial reconnaissance" in Ukrainian (Ukrainian: аеророзвідка) given name for Aerorozvidka has been introduced by the founders of the organization Yaroslav Honchar, Volodymyr Kochetkov-Sukach, and Natan Khazin. Prior to that Ukraine used the term "aerial photography".[6]
  • On February 9, 2015, a powerful explosion happened in Donetsk. Representatives of Aerorozvidka claimed they had adjusted that strike.[55]

References

  1. 1 2 Parker, Charlie. "Specialist Ukrainian drone unit picks off invading Russian forces as they sleep". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
  2. 1 2 "Ukraine's Drone Warriors". Atlantic Council. 2015-03-10. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
  3. 1 2 (in German) Mini-Einheit stoppte Putins Mega-Konvoi. Drohnen-Bastlertruppe Aerorozvidka versorgt die ukrainische Armee mit Live-Daten – auch mithilfe Elon Musks. Jeanne Plaumann. Bild. 29.03.2022
  4. ↑ "Meet the amateur drone pilots defending Ukraine's border with Russia". New Scientist. 2022-03-28. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
  5. ↑ (in Ukrainian) Україна-Ізраїль: від Жидівського куреня УГА і загонів «Хагани» – до Єврейської чоти УДА. Radio Liberty. 05.05.2018
  6. 1 2 3 (in Ukrainian) "Підтримай aеророзвідку". bpla.in.ua. Archived from the original on 2017-11-27. Retrieved 2017-11-14.
  7. 1 2 (in Ukrainian) Армія майбутнього, що лишилася в минулому. Спогади творця розформованої «Аеророзвідки». Novynarnia. 17.04.2021
  8. ↑ (in Ukrainian) Епічна битва за Київ. Підполковник Гончар про те, як українці зупинили навалу Путіна. Glavkom. 16.04.2022
  9. 1 2 3 (in Ukrainian) Підрозділ «Аеророзвідка» реорганізовують. The Military. 13.01.2021
  10. ↑ (in Ukrainian) Командування військ зв'язку повідомило про розформування Центру аеророзвідки створеного волонтерами у 2015 році. Ukrainian Military Pages. 17.09.2020
  11. 1 2 (in Ukrainian) Крилаті розвідники: як і що бачать «очима» безпілотника. Radio Liberty. 08.04.2017
  12. ↑ (in Ukrainian) Легалізовані «очі» на допомогу армії: «Аеророзвідка» набула статусу громадської організації. Novynarnia. 28.09.2020
  13. ↑ (in Ukrainian) Громадська організація «Аеророзвідка». Opendatabot
  14. ↑ (in Ukrainian) Міноборони створює Центр інновацій та оборонних технологій. Ukrainian Military Pages. 07.10.2021
  15. ↑ (in Ukrainian) В Міноборони створено Центр інновацій та оборонних технологій: відповідну спільну Директиву підписали Міністр оборони України та Головнокомандувач Збройних Сил України. Ministry of Defence (Ukraine)
  16. ↑ Ukraine becomes associate member of NATO Multilateral Interoperability Program – DM. Interfax. 12.07.2022
  17. ↑ Ukraine became a member of the NATO interoperability program. What it means?. Babel. 12.07.2022
  18. ↑ (in Ukrainian) «Україна стала асоційованим членом програми технологічного співробітництва збройних сил країн НАТО», — Олексій Резніков. Ministry of Defence (Ukraine). 12.07.2022
  19. ↑ (in Ukrainian) Україна стала асоційованим членом програми технологічного співробітництва збройних сил країн НАТО, — Олексій Резніков. Government of Ukraine. 12.07.2022
  20. ↑ (in Ukrainian) Підполковник Шепард: «Українська комп’ютерна система управління «Дельта» повністю сумісна з аналогами НАТО». Radio Liberty. 08.10.2017
  21. ↑ (in Ukrainian) «Ловець» диверсантів та автоматизована армія — що нового в ЗСУ. Na Chasi. 28.02.2018
  22. ↑ (in Ukrainian) Комбриг 93-ї ОМБр Владислав Клочков: «Ми ведемо посилену підготовку особового складу до наступальних, рейдових дій». The Ukrainian Week. 10.05.2018
  23. ↑ (in Ukrainian) Рівень української аеророзвідки вражає представників НАТО (відео). Fakty, ICTV. 2017
  24. ↑ (in Ukrainian) У НАТО дивуються нашим успіхам – один із засновників «Аеророзвідки» ЗСУ. Radio Liberty. 03.12.2016
  25. 1 2 (in Ukrainian) «Аеророзвідка» запустили систему відеоспостереження в Чорнобилі. Mind. 26.11.2021
  26. 1 2 Vodafone Ukraine and Aeroizvidka NGO to install video surveillance system in Chornobyl Reserve. Contamination Zone. 01.06.2021
  27. ↑ (in Ukrainian) У партнерах — ГО «Аеророзвідка». Chernobyl Radiation and Ecological Biosphere Reserve
  28. ↑ (in Ukrainian) ЗСУ відновлюють розформовану Хомчаком «Аеророзвідку». Ukrainian Military Pages. 22.10.2021
  29. ↑ (in Ukrainian) На Rapid Trident-2017 продемонстрували сумісну з натівськими аналогами українську систему управління військами «Дельта», — Міноборони. ВIДЕО. censor.net.ua. 19.09.2017
  30. ↑ (in Ukrainian) (in English) Волонтерський проект «Аеророзвідка» виготовляє альтернативні безпілотники для бійців в зоні АТО. UCMC. 27.08.2014
  31. 1 2 3 (in Ukrainian) «Долар, вкладений у дрон — це $1000 втрат для ворога»: як працює «Аеророзвідка». AIN.UA. 28.07.2022
  32. 1 2 (in Ukrainian) Український підрозділ «Аеророзвідка»: як ударні дрони допомагають ЗСУ на полі бою?. Ukrainian Radio. 20.06.2022
  33. 1 2 3 (in Ukrainian) «Нехай гине залізо, а не наші люди». Як українська Аеророзвідка перемагає окупантів у «війні дронів». ShoTam. 22.06.2022
  34. ↑ (in Ukrainian) Помічники «Байракторів». Як працюють на Донбасі наші дрони Skyfist та R18. Delovaya Stolitsa. 16.11.2021
  35. ↑ (in Ukrainian) Аеророзвідка розкрила удари з БПЛА по об’єктах окупантів. The Military. 11.11.2021
  36. ↑ Ukraine’s R18 Strike Drone Hit Enemy Tank with RKG-1600 Minibombs by Mayak Plant PJSC and Aerorozvidka. Defense Express. 09.01.2021
  37. 1 2 "The drone operators who halted Russian convoy headed for Kyiv". The Guardian. 2022-03-28. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
  38. 1 2 The Ragtag Army That Won the Battle of Kyiv and Saved Ukraine. James Marson. The Wall Street Journal. 20.09.2022
  39. ↑ (in Spanish) El batallón civil que pone a punto los drones para el ejército ucranio. Óscar Gutiérrez. El País. 22.08.2022
  40. 1 2 (in Ukrainian) Октокоптер R18 від «Аеророзвідка» – український дрон, який нищить ворогів. Mezha. 26.04.2022
  41. 1 2 (in Ukrainian) Військові показали кадри ефективної роботи бойового дрона R18 по техніці окупантів (відео). UNIAN. 16.06.2022
  42. ↑ (in Ukrainian) Українська аеророзвідка тестує новий вітчизняний октокоптер R-18 — можливості та особливості. STB. 10.07.2022
  43. ↑ (in Ukrainian) «Армія дронів»: як Україна збирається озброїти військо безпілотниками. Deutsche Welle. 14.07.2022
  44. ↑ (in Ukrainian) Аеророзвідник Сергій Хаджинов: «Коли ти коригуєш, ти на зв'язку з артилеристами. І якщо влучення, то ти верещиш: "Влучив! Повторюй!» І він радісно верещить: «Плюс!». Це завжди велика радість». cenzor.net. 22.06.2022
  45. ↑ Small Quadcopters Rule The Battlefield In Ukraine — Which Makes Their Chinese Manufacturers Very Unhappy. Forbes. 29.04.2022
  46. ↑ (in Japanese) “武器”に使用される懸念は?作戦集団は「とても助かる」. TBS News. 21.04.2022
  47. ↑ (in Ukrainian) В «Аеророзвідці» показали, як «Лелека» виявляє окупантів. The Military. 17.04.2022
  48. ↑ Jane Arraf (2022). U.S. and Ukrainian drone enthusiasts turn their hobby into a weapon of war. nytimes.com
  49. ↑ "Elite Ukrainian Drone Pilots Are Reportedly Making All the Difference". Futurism. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
  50. 1 2 (in Ukrainian) «Наламали оркам штурм»: після двох злетів дрон знищив ворожу БМП – як працює українська команда «Аеророзвідка». 5 Kanal. 29.06.2022
  51. ↑ (in Ukrainian) «Наші дрони не мажуть»: фахівці з «Аеророзвідки» розповіли, як знищують ЗС РФ (відео). Focus. 18.06.2022
  52. ↑ "Explained: Who are the elite Ukraine IT forces that stopped the 40-mile Russian convoy heading to Kyiv?". Firstpost. 2022-03-29. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
  53. 1 2 Specialist Ukrainian drone unit picks off invading Russian forces as they sleep. Charlie Parker. The New York Times. 18.03.2022
  54. ↑ (in Ukrainian) Як Starlink Ілона Маска допомагає українським військовим і цивільним. Deutsche Welle. 29.03.2022
  55. ↑ (in Ukrainian) "Українська аеророзвідка зізналася, що «доклала руку» до надпотужного вибуху у Донецьку". ТСН.ua (in Ukrainian). 2015-02-09. Archived from the original on 2017-11-15. Retrieved 2017-11-14.
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