Typhoon: Ukraine’s specialist unmanned-systems unit

Formed in 2024 within Ukraine’s National Guard, the Typhoon unit concentrates exclusively on unmanned systems and their battlefield employment. Initially focused on frontline first-person-view (FPV) operations, the unit has since broadened its remit to include a wider range of unmanned aerial systems (UAS).

Typhoon’s core activities are developing and improving drone capabilities in combat and delivering operator training; its team mixes engineers who rapidly modify platforms with experienced pilots who execute complex sorties, Defense News writes.

Personnel and training constraints

Typhoon reports a shortage of pilots and, more problematically, a shortage of motivated, technically capable individuals. Training a pilot from scratch to a beginner operational level takes roughly three months; however, FPV pilots require hybrid skills — both piloting proficiency and basic engineering ability to diagnose and repair systems in the field.

To compensate for limited manpower, Typhoon emphasizes quality over quantity: fewer, better-trained operators supported by continuous battlefield feedback and analysis.

Analysts within the unit monitor electronic warfare (EW) activity, identify usable radio and video frequency windows, and disseminate actionable guidance on components and setups — improving both pilot performance and platform survivability.

Electronic warfare environment, mitigation

The EW environment is highly dynamic, with Russian jammers covering broad swathes of the spectrum. Typhoon’s approach combines intelligence collection and tactical timing: missions capable of achieving effects in a single pass are less vulnerable to reactive jamming.

Technical mitigations include redundancy — multiple receivers on different frequencies and antennas with varied polarizations (linear, circular) — enabling continued control if one link is jammed. The unit also tracks pattern changes (frequency coverage, altitude dependencies, mission timing) to adapt radio/video choices and flight profiles.

Supply, localisation and component diversity

A key operational requirement is access to diverse spare parts. Many operators and engineers rely on the same Chinese components; success often hinges on the ability to swap video transmitters and radio modules across frequency bands (e.g., 1.2 GHz, 3 GHz, 6+ GHz) to stay ahead of jamming. Localizing production of parts in Ukraine has progressed but only partially addresses the need for rapid component replacement when adversaries shift EW tactics.

Assessment of Western, domestic systems

Typhoon notes fixed-wing reconnaissance drones from Western sources have been among the most effective, citing German Vector and Polish FlyEye systems as successful where manufacturers maintain rapid feedback loops with front-line operators and localize support in Ukraine.

By contrast, some smaller Western systems — and certain domestic platforms — have underperformed in high-EW conditions or failed battlefield testing because developers lacked real combat-condition validation. Specific examples include concerns about some Skydio drones’ reliability under current jamming conditions.

Unmanned ground vehicle testing, operational realism

Recent UGV trials employed strict, battlefield-oriented protocols: manufacturers operated robots remotely from dugouts without line of sight, using only onboard camera feeds and recon drones. Runs were terminated if vehicles stopped or became immobilized; stuck platforms were not recovered and became obstacles for subsequent tests.

These trials revealed that many systems that work in controlled settings fail when operators must rely solely on remote sensing and adapt to unknown terrain — exposing a gap between lab performance and realistic combat utility.

Russian adaptations, platform performance

Russian tactics have evolved: fixed-wing drones are increasingly used as carriers to release FPVs at ranges of 30–50 km, enhancing connectivity and helping bypass jamming. Fiber-optic drones have also improved range (now sometimes 25–30 km), but remain sensitive to cable damage from artillery, terrain obstacles, weather and friendly operations.

Typhoon reports variable mission success rates: elite FPV pilots may achieve 70–80% success, mid-level pilots 40–50%, and novices much lower; fiber-optic drone success is generally lower, often constrained by environmental and operational factors.

By Sabina Mammadli