Ukraine has developed an upgraded version of the Chinese-made Mavic drone after Beijing restricted its exports, Business Insider reported.
Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s minister of digital transformation, stated that three newly developed Ukrainian drones, resembling the Chinese models, are already in use on the front lines and are designed to meet NATO standards.
The Mavic drone, manufactured by China’s DJI, was originally intended for personal and commercial applications before gaining widespread use in combat operations.
Last year, Beijing restricted exports of key drone components, including motors, batteries, and flight controllers, leading to supply shortages for Ukraine.
Additionally, high loss rates, with some units losing up to five Mavics per day, have further pushed Kyiv to seek alternatives.
“Mavic is one of the most popular drones at the front, it is simple, effective and cheap,” said Fedorov.
“At the same time, Mavics are difficult and expensive to import, so creating a Ukrainian equivalent is a top priority,” he added.
New Ukrainian Drones
Ukraine aims to scale up production further, with the goal of fully replacing the Mavic systems.
Kyiv’s drones feature integrated communication systems, automatic landing capabilities, and a “return to home” mode.
Unlike the Chinese version, the Ukrainian systems are reportedly resistant to Russian electronic warfare, according to sources who spoke to Business Insider.
The Shmavik drone, developed by Reactive Drone, can operate for up to one hour, has a range of 9.3 miles (14.9 kilometers), and carries a payload of up to 2.2 pounds (0.9 kilograms).
The Ukropter drone, developed by Bravery Invest, has a payload capacity of over 4 pounds, a flight time of up to 60 minutes, and can reach speeds of 46 miles (74 kilometers) per hour.
The latest Chinese Mavic drone has a similar speed but lower payload capacity and a flight endurance of about 46 minutes.
Another system potentially replacing the Mavic is the ZOOM drone, produced by Frontline.
It integrates a visual navigation module that allows it to remain airborne without operator input.
The drone reaches an altitude of 200 meters (656 feet) and features automated takeoff and landing functions.
