“Russian equipment is being destroyed every day”: Airlogix talked about the creation of new Gor UAVs

Ukrainian company Airlogix recently created an updated version of the Gor unmanned aerial systems (UAVS) that help the Defense Forces destroy invaders. Founder of the project Vitaly Kolesnichenko and head of marketing department Viktor Lokotkov he told in an interview FocusWhat has changed and what can be expected from this technology in the near future?

When did work on Gor begin?

Vitaly Kolesnichenko: In April 2022. The aerodynamic design we wanted to make was ready within two months, and then we built the first plane. But the materials were not yet composite. After several iterations, we improved the materials and moved on to composites. This was about six months later.

How has Gor changed since the update?

Vitaly Kolesnichenko: We improved the communication system, developed it internally, optimized the software and hardware. We also worked on the backup communications system, updating it and adding features. This allows us to use our complex more efficiently. I can’t reveal too many details, but the development is related to protecting the drone from enemy electronic warfare.

Why will the army be able to use new Gor complexes more effectively?

Vitaly Kolesnichenko: Because they have become more resistant to interference created by electronic warfare equipment. Thanks to this, the military can operate in very intense radio suppression conditions.

What results did the updated complex show during testing?

Vitaly Kolesnichenko: It works stably, the video quality has increased significantly due to the stability of the connection. This means teams have the opportunity to work with an even higher quality image and adjust ignition more effectively.

Did you change the optics?

Vitaly Kolesnichenko: NO. The last time we replaced the optical system was about a year ago. We started using Israeli optics and everyone is very happy with it, both us and the army, that’s the main thing. There was no point in changing this because the system works and works great. We just install different equipment on different sides. Same manufacturer but cheaper or more expensive versions. There are day cameras, there are day cameras with night cameras – it depends on the needs of the units and the chosen configuration. If the crew only works during the day, they don’t need a plane with a night camera, which would cost much more and savings could be made.

The complex is approved by the Ministry of Defense. Do I need to recertify after upgrading?

Vitaly Kolesnichenko: Technical conditions may also change when some fundamental changes are made in the complex. If something changes fundamentally, you need to get permission to use it again. For us, changes are made within our technical conditions, so there was no need for this.

What kind of work does Gore do?

Vitaly Kolesnichenko: This is a tactical reconnaissance aircraft with a range of up to 40 km. It mainly destroys enemy equipment, manpower, electronic warfare, air defense equipment, etc. Performs reconnaissance missions to detect Then – transfer of coordinates, observation and adjustment of the operation of means of destruction, for example, rocket or cannon artillery. This is its main purpose.

Viktor Lokotkov: We are sure that Russian equipment is destroyed every day with the help of our complexes.

In August 2023, Airlogix reported: Gor Bpak completed 70 combat missions. How many combat missions are there now?

Vitaly Kolesnichenko: It’s hard to say because these 70 flights were carried out by a single crew and a single complex. It was meant to be quite durable, able to withstand loads and work for this long. This team is still working and, as far as I know, happy with the complex.

I don’t know how many sorties have been flown at the moment. Probably hundreds. We cannot get statistics, they are classified.

You probably know how many complexes have been made.

Vitaly Kolesnichenko: Yes, we know how many complexes have been transferred and are currently in operation, and so many aircraft.

What kind of feedback does the military give and have they found any deficiencies that need to be addressed?

Vitaly Kolesnichenko: There is a continuous improvement process and this is driven by feedback from the military. There is always something to improve, reviews are received about the new version of the complex. Now these are less important, not as basic as before: paint, polish, strengthen. These mainly concern the “soft” part, not the “hard” part. The plane itself is already more or less shaped as a product, and the software the pilot uses has some nuances; It is still being worked on, improving the interface and user experience, adding “software” features, and the result has been improved, becoming more efficient and easier to use.

What are Airlogix’s plans for the future? Are new technologies being developed and will you produce attack UAVs?

Vitaly Kolesnichenko: A new version of Gor is being prepared that will fly longer and farther, improve the flight performance of the system and completely optimize its aerodynamics. It is natural for this to happen.

The next stage will be to work with other systems we have designed. We plan to create a drone ecosystem so that the UAV does not fly on its own, but works in a network with other devices. They are currently in the prototype and testing phase, including the shock systems we are working on.

Viktor Lokotkov: Soon the Russians will have some difficult times. Now we hope to do something quickly to destroy them more actively, more precisely. Our duty now is to use the most advanced technologies; We will be heavily involved in software to create a nearly autonomous ecosystem with minimum human intervention and maximum assistance from various computer systems.

This is also a popular phrase now: “artificial intelligence”, although it is not always artificial intelligence but just some type of computer system solution. We will use a variety of such solutions to ensure the job is as efficient and successful as possible. Even if the operator does not notice something during the exploration, the systems direct him to an object that needs attention. We also plan to involve them in adjusting the operation of attack UAVs, whether they are ours or not.

We are very open to cooperation with other Ukrainian companies dealing with both UAV and software, we are already cooperating with some of them. If others are interested, let them apply. Actually, you have to understand that in Ukraine there is very productive work between different companies, we are working on the same thing, our task is to create as many good Russians as possible from bad Russians, if you know what I mean. And this needs to be done as quickly as possible in order to expel them from our lands. Then create a buffer zone so that they cannot reach Ukraine again anytime soon, even if they wanted to.

We are moving in various directions on this issue, we have many projects in development and we hope that these will be implemented in the near future and do the work needed. So that fewer of our men die at the front.

How do you plan to make attack drones? So will they hit the same distance as Gor?

Vitaly Kolesnichenko: They will work in the same system, that is, they will work within each other’s sphere of influence. However, the distance will change as we will optimize the reconnaissance drones.

Am I right in my understanding: first the reconnaissance UAV flew, detected a target, and then the attack UAV flew and destroyed it?

Vitaly Kolesnichenko: Definitely.

What does the complex currently consist of and how should it change after further changes?

Vitaly Kolesnichenko: There are currently five transport crates, three aircraft, a catapult and a ground station. You can completely disperse it in about ten minutes. All this can be thrown into one bead. It could be one plane or all three, depending on how the crew operates.

Viktor Lokotkov: It also depends on the position. They launched the plane, hid in a shelter, camouflaged the car – and nothing should be visible. And it just so happens that you’re working from the third front, knowing that there are no enemy scouts on you, so you turn things around. And you fly each plane in a circle: one flying, one attacking, and one in reserve. You can fly 24 hours a day and control a certain area.

Vitaly Kolesnichenko: I hope there will be four boxes after optimization because the drone should become smaller. We plan to make the new version hand-launched, making the board lighter and more comfortable to use. Because launching from a catapult requires certain pilot skills.

It is also necessary to optimize the weight of the aircraft to improve its performance characteristics. We do this so that pilots can use the systems as efficiently as possible and that doing so is as convenient as possible for them. The system is actually being optimized both in hardware and software to make it a sort of analogue of the Mavic so they can just drop it and it will fly. It should be something like this – they launched it and there are no problems, you work for yourself, you don’t need to think about anything extra, just focus on completing the task and the plane will do the rest for you.

What format does the ground station use?

Vitaly Kolesnichenko: This is a mobile control station. You can work from a car, a shelter, or in the fresh air, it all depends on your circumstances. This is the software installed on the particular computer. There is a UAV operator, a payload operator, and they work in pairs and each performs its own task.

How many people do you need to operate and manage?

Vitaly Kolesnichenko: Minimum two, optimum three, four can work. But as far as we can see, they are both in good shape. Usually, if we talk about statistics, three people work.

Is Gor feeling the intensity of electronic warfare on both the Ukrainian and Russian side?

Vitaly Kolesnichenko: We use components and configure systems to operate under these conditions. If we are talking about helicopters and FPVs, most of them operate in standard frequency ranges, so on the other hand, they use standard frequencies for suppression. When they operate at non-standard frequencies, the enemy needs time to create non-standard solutions to counter them. This gives the Ukrainians a certain amount of time to work, but then they catch up, and in order for us to work, we have to change frequencies, ranges again, look for other ways or algorithms for communication.

Another issue is GPS/GNSS. It is an axiom that there is no GPS on the front. It looks like a given task; No GPS, figure it out. We have now made a solution that allows you to work in conditions where GPS is not available. It is already used in practice in combat conditions.

Viktor Lokotkov: In general, the situation is such that not only our but also our colleagues’ planes are more flexible in terms of communication than helicopters. They have more space and more options to use more expensive technologies. If in the FPV space there is now a struggle to reduce costs because it is a disposable product and needs to be cheap, then with drones it is a little easier. But we understand that the Russians are also flying and need to be pinned down, and reconnaissance provides a lot of valuable information so that we can later work with the same FPV or artillery. The situation is the same for us; The Russians want to block our communications, and we want to block the Russians. The struggle continues and this helps that the Russians are using different solutions and looking for non-standard ways. No one can answer how long this will help. We are thinking ahead; We already have a vision of the next steps in case there is a problem with this connection.

Although we do not underestimate the enemy, we hope to always be one step ahead and produce solutions that will enable our planes to fly. Because the real thing is the eyes in the sky. The update we received helps the army not to sense the interference that the Russians are trying to do and to do its job smoothly.