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A successful mission in 2026 will involve not only taking photos and videos, but also navigating through dense electronic warfare and maintaining control. Modern requirements for reconnaissance drones include electronic warfare resistance, reliable communication channels, and continuous improvement of characteristics for stable control in critical conditions.
The ANT team keeps its finger on the pulse, communicating daily with the military to improve reconnaissance UAVs. This year, we are already seeing major trends in the widespread use of electronic warfare by enemies and allies.
How is the work of reconnaissance UAVs changing due to the prevalence of electronic warfare?
In 2025-2026, the resistance of Ukrainian-made UAVs to electronic warfare became a basic characteristic. Previously, electronic warfare devices operated in narrow, standard ranges. Now, the enemy is constantly expanding the frequency spectrum to jam drones that switch to non-standard control channels, making changes to power, and using various techniques to make it harder to detect electronic warfare equipment.
Now, reconnaissance UAVs must not only fly, but also operate stably in conditions of active suppression. The aircraft must be as "survivable" as possible to effectively perform military tasks. While a few years ago, electronic warfare was used to detect and suppress radio networks, now most electronic warfare is directed against various types of UAVs.
The main requirement for reconnaissance UAVs is a communication channel that is resistant to electronic warfare.
In 2026, drones for the Armed Forces of Ukraine must have two communication channels operating at different frequencies. This is quite expensive to implement technically, but losing a reconnaissance UAV due to electronic warfare is even more expensive.
Communication remains the most vulnerable component of a reconnaissance drone. If a UAV changes course, crashes, or flies on autopilot to its starting point, we lose equipment and data. In addition, the pilot cannot influence the course of events at such moments and simply waits, losing precious time.
ANT engineers are comprehensively improving UAVs
Resistance to electronic warfare is a systemic engineering task: communication, algorithms, antennas, software solutions. It is not an additional option, but the foundation of the design, without which modern warfare is impossible.
The MERCURY unmanned aerial vehicle complex was developed several years ago with a single communication channel. After communicating with the military in various areas and conducting test flights, it quickly became clear that this was not enough. At least a second backup channel is needed, one that is resistant to electronic warfare.
In 2026, the third iteration of the Ukrainian UAV — when even video communication is not jammed by electronic warfare, because the first communication channel is one-way, and the second has a wide pseudorandom frequency hopping (PRFH), making it difficult or impossible to jam.
The only effective algorithm:
→ We go to the front line and test UAVs in combat conditions
→ We collect feedback from the military and UAV operators on the performance of enemy equipment
→ We immediately implement changes, adding elements to radio communications to improve stability
→ We improve technical characteristics: flight altitude, range, resistance to electronic warfare
What the military says about MERCURY
❝ The mission was completed without failure. Despite enemy electronic warfare suppression, control and communications remained stable, including the use of the drag-and-drop function on the map.
❝ The technical characteristics declared by the manufacturer were confirmed during testing. The MERCURY UAV demonstrated a high level of autonomy, stable communication channels, and sufficient quality of reconnaissance data for operational use in combat conditions.
It is important to verify the declared characteristics in practice, because only testing in combat conditions will protect the drone for the Armed Forces of Ukraine from failures on the battlefield. In the development of ANT's technology, feedback is the most important source for improving unmanned aerial systems. Every day, we explore new opportunities, attend professional exhibitions in Ukraine and abroad, and find new approaches.
How to enhance reconnaissance UAVs using the example of Ukraine's Mercury:
◾️ The UAV operates from a distance of 20 km, which allows it to simply not fly into the strike zone and not fear enemy electronic warfare.
◾️ High level of resistance to electronic warfare.
◾️ Before being put into service, it underwent electronic warfare testing: control signals, video and GNSS.
◾️ It can continue flying in adverse weather conditions and in radio silence mode, which provides flexibility when performing tasks. Even in areas of active electronic warfare, it autonomously completes its mission and returns to base.
What reconnaissance tasks are affected by the technical characteristics of UAVs?
The Mercury unmanned aerial vehicle has two communication channels that are highly resistant to electronic warfare, allowing it to operate where other drones cannot even theoretically operate. In an electronic warfare environment, Mercury is capable of transmitting video, allowing it to perform a wider range of tasks, such as fire correction and online reconnaissance.
The main change and challenge of 2026 — powerful friendly electronic warfare
Electronic warfare (EW) systems have been operating and developing since the beginning of the Russian invasion. Now, friendly EW systems are being used to carry out missions, which have come into widespread use in response to enemy systems. This has a significant impact on communications, especially when EW systems are activated without warning and at inopportune moments. Navigation is immediately disabled, and it becomes difficult to control UAVs during take-off and landing.
The Ukrainian military has learned to operate in enemy territory, but coordination is not always possible to plan. When improving UAVs, we have long since stopped relying on satellite navigation and now fly using other methods. Only stable communications allow us to break through friendly electronic warfare.
Ukrainian-made UAVs set the standard for global leaders
Ukrainian engineers set standards, which has been evident since the start of the full-scale invasion. Most European and American drones were simply inoperable in electronic warfare conditions. Now, technologies are being brought up to standard, and we are immediately designing unmanned aerial systems that work in modern warfare conditions.
Changes in UAV design due to the influence of electronic warfare
Before the full-scale invasion
▣ European and American UAVs with a single communication channel are widely used.
▣ There is a threat of hostile electronic warfare, and the enemy is constantly updating and improving its equipment.
▣ It is necessary to improve communication and the resistance of equipment to electronic warfare in order to prevent the influence of hostile electronic warfare.
▣ The number of UAVs available for use is important. Reconnaissance uses UAVs with limited functionality.
In 2025-2026
▣ Two communication channels are the minimum required for effective operation.
▣ Friendly electronic warfare has a greater impact on mission performance than hostile electronic warfare. UAV resistance to electronic warfare is necessary for safe launch and landing, so as not to depend on the work of allies.
▣ The threat of interceptor drones has been added, so it is necessary to change the design of UAVs, their range, speed, and flight altitude. It is not enough to simply develop a UAV that is resistant to electronic warfare.
▣ Quality is more important, because a single reconnaissance UAV with extensive functionality can perform more complex missions and return to base without hindrance.
Vulnerable UAVs cannot withstand competition and modern conditions
Not all UAVs passed the electronic warfare test and adapted. New threats in technological warfare are inevitable, and what worked before is a dubious benchmark. The ANT team continues to improve unmanned aerial systems every day and release drones for the Armed Forces of Ukraine with updated specifications. Resistance to electronic warfare is one of the components of a successful operation.
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