On October 6, 2023, a video shared on X by Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's Minister of Digital Transformation, showcased a large number of civilian drones supplied to front-line troops. Nearly 2,000 Autel Evo Max 4T drones, equipped with artificial intelligence, will be deployed for reconnaissance missions, artillery adjustments, and identifying hidden Russian positions.
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Autel Evo Max 4T Chinese drone bought by the Ukrainian Army (Picture source: Twitter account of Mykhailo Fedorov )

Ukraine has recently placed an order for 2,000 drones manufactured in China as it prepares for another series of aerial confrontations with Russia. While Ukraine has achieved some tactical victories by neutralizing Russian assets, it has also suffered significant losses in its aircraft fleet due to electronic countermeasures and anti-air defenses.

One of the features of the EVO Max 4T is its 720-degree obstacle avoidance system. This advanced feature combines traditional binocular vision systems with millimeter-wave radar technology. Autel's onboard Autonomy Engine can perceive objects as small as 0.5 inches, effectively eliminating blind spots and enabling operation in low-light or rainy conditions.

Moreover, the drone is equipped with advanced sensors that allow it to navigate in GPS-denied environments. Its Autonomy Engine collects environmental data to plan 3D flight paths through complex landscapes like mountains, forests, and buildings.

The Evo Max 4T introduces A-Mesh 1.0, the industry's first mesh networking system for drones. This enables drone-to-drone autonomous communication, connection, and collaboration. The mesh network is particularly useful for beyond-line-of-sight applications, as multiple drones can act as relay points to improve operational effectiveness. The bulk purchase of these drones is therefore interesting as this effect will only be amplified.

Additionally, the drone is engineered to counter radio frequency interference (RFI), electromagnetic interference (EMI), and GPS spoofing. This makes it reliable for flying near power lines or other critical structures. The drone's AI recognition technology can automatically identify and lock onto different types of targets, such as heat sources, moving people, or vehicles. It has a maximum flight time of 42 minutes and a transmission range of 12.4 miles.

Last year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky launched the Army of Drones initiative as a globally crowd-funded effort to amass a substantial inventory of drones for use in the conflict with Russia. These drones can either be bought directly from the market or custom-built within Ukraine, in partnership with defense companies.

Ukraine has been innovative in its use of civilian and recreational drones against Russian military personnel. By fitting these drones with rudimentary release mechanisms, they have been used to drop grenades into trenches and open hatches of tanks and armored vehicles. Additionally, larger quadcopters have been deployed that are capable of penetrating Russian armor using rocket-propelled grenades.