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Transcript/Script
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((PLAYBOOK SLUG: Army of Drones Ukraine
HEADLINE: Powered by Tech, Ukraine is Building a Drone Army
TEASER: Pushed by war needs, the country is rapidly increasing production of unmanned aerial vehicles, other high-tech weapons
PUBLISHED: 7/20/23 at 8:30 am
BYLINE: Myroslava Gongadze
DATELINE: Kyiv/ Warsaw
VIDEOGRAPHER: Eugene Shynkar, Daniil Batushchak, Agencies
SCRIPT EDITORS: Reifenrath, Sharon Shahid, DJ (ok), LR
VIDEO EDITOR: Daniil Batushchak
VIDEO SOURCES: VOA ORIGINAL, Reuters
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV X_SM_
TRT: 3:29
TYPE: TVRPKG
((INTRO))
[[Ukrainian forces are working to gain ground in their counteroffensive operations against Russia while maintaining an edge in innovative military technologies. VOA Eastern Europe bureau chief Myroslava Gongadze visited the production and testing facilities of Ukraine's rapidly developing military tech industry in Ukraine and Poland.]]
((NARRATION))
When Russia invaded Ukraine, Kateryna Mykhalko had just started her career helping to connect tech companies with the government.
She still in Ukraine but now she’s working in the rapidly expanding military technology industry.
As operational director for Tech Force in UA, an association of six tech companies, Mykhalko is showcasing one of the many drones developed in Ukraine.
((Kateryna Mykhalko, Tech Force in UA – FEMALE - ENGLISH))
“These drone units are already on the front line, and the Ukrainian military, they are using it to get an advantage on the front line.”
((NARRATION))
In fewer than six months, Ukrainians developed and built the SHARK UAV, a reconnaissance drone that is launched with a catapult and uses parachutes to land.
Produced by the company Ukrspecsystems, the drone can penetrate Russian-controlled territory, conduct deep aerial surveillance and adjust fire, including that of HIMARS rocket launchers.
The Ukraine government-supported Army of Drones fundraising campaign has contributed significantly to drone development.
((Kateryna Mykhalko, Tech Force in UA – FEMALE - ENGLISH))
“This hard wartime gives us the opportunity to develop technology real fast, because engineers could get feedback from the front line and from the military people.”
((NARRATION))
Last spring, Ukraine launched the military tech cluster BRAVE1, bringing together state, military and private-sector defense developers.
Within a few months, “BRAVE1” successfully registered over 300 prototypes and projects and was awarded numerous grants, says COO Nataliia Kushnerska.
((Nataliia Kushnerska, BRAVE1 Chief Operating Officer (( FEMALE IN ENGLISH))
“General staff gave us 12 main priorities. It's not only about unmanned aerial vehicles. It's also about assessment intelligence. Its everything about defense tech.”
((NARRATION))
Drones can also carry small explosives that can be dropped into Russian trenches or on tanks and military vehicles. In response to these attacks, the Russians have been jamming satellite navigation.
Eugene Nayshtetik, founder of the tech startup Radio Bird, has addressed this challenge. His Defender drone can fly without satellite navigation and detect various radio-emitting targets,
((Mandatory Courtesy: Radio Bird))
...including electronic warfare systems.
((Eugene Nayshtetik, Radio Bird CEO – MALE IN ENGLISH))
“The dedication of this drone is to identify radio emitting targets and to understand where we have electronic warfare, where we have anti-aircraft units, where we have radars, where we have common units and so on. So this will be one of the game changers.”
((NARRATION))
Radio Bird is collaborating with the Polish company Air Res Aviation to streamline production.
[[Air Res co-owner Jerzy Nowak expressed confidence that Ukrainian engineering and Polish production expertise can help end the war.
((Jerzy Nowak, Air Res Aviation)) ((In English))
“Every work that helps at the moment finish the war is very important for me.”
((NARRATION))
Nayshtetik agrees.
((Eugene Nayshtetik, Radio Bird CEO)) ((in English))
“We need a lot of drones. It’s a war of drones.”
((NARRATION))
Ukrainian tech entrepreneurs are playing a crucial role in enabling the military and government to stand up to Russia. Their dedication and innovation are key factors in Ukraine's resilience.
((Myroslava Gongadze, VOA News, Kyiv, Ukraine, and Warsaw, Poland))
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