Ukrainian defense tech company Vyriy Industries has unveiled the new Slavic tactical reconnaissance drone, developed as a domestically produced alternative to Chinese commercial quadcopters.
During the development of Slavic, the company retained a control system familiar to DJI Mavic operators. Automated functions include altitude and position hold, automatic return, and landing. This is intended to simplify the transition to the new platform without lengthy retraining, according to a press release from Vyriy Industries.
Slavic is equipped with a 40,000 mAh solid-state battery, providing up to 1.5 hours of flight time. The drone has a tactical operating range of up to 30 km.
The drone can operate without GPS using an optical positioning system. Its communications system operates across a wide frequency range, allowing operators to select less congested channels.
For reconnaissance missions, Slavic is equipped with a 2K daytime digital camera with a resolution of 2560 × 1440 pixels. It is mounted on a three-axis stabilized gimbal and provides 10x optical zoom and up to 30x hybrid zoom.
The included controller supports integration with the DELTA and Kropyva situational awareness systems, while video can be transmitted through the VEZHA application.
Slavic has already undergone initial combat testing with seven units of Ukraine’s Defense Forces. Vyriy Industries collected feedback from military crews for further refinement of the platform.
According to the company, the drone itself with its battery costs UAH 200,000 (approximately $4,600).
Vyriy Industries is also preparing the platform for scaled-up production.
