Kateryna Hirnyk 06:36, 18.08.26 UNIAN
The development of satellite technology is changing the rules of the game for Ukraine on the battlefield
Ukrainian UAV units have gained a powerful new tool on the battlefield: high-tech satellite imagery that provides information about troop movements and locations in near real time. According to The New York Times , this is a game-changer for Ukraine.
A year ago, delivering satellite imagery to the frontline could take days due to less sophisticated technology and a multi-layered command structure, making it difficult to hit targets that could change location with long-range drone strikes.
“The rapid delivery of high-quality satellite imagery to forward-deployed forces is one of the key battlefield achievements over the past year, allowing Ukraine to quickly strike at weapons depots, logistics centers, and troop camps deep inside Russian-controlled territory, as well as inside Russia itself,” the article notes.
In some cases, forward troops can operate the satellites themselves, quickly analyzing the images for targets and then firing. Rapid satellite imagery also helps them verify which targets have been hit and fire again if necessary.
“The military still needs approval from more experienced commanders to strike targets, which reduces the risk of errors by less experienced pilots. But now this process has been greatly simplified,” the NYT writes.
Thanks to this tool, Ukraine, in particular, intensified strikes on occupied Crimea, which destroyed ferry terminals needed by Russia to supply the peninsula, as well as logistical routes.
Space opens the next frontier
Until recently, only high-ranking commanders had access to satellite imagery for high-level strategic planning.
But that access has expanded significantly in the past year, thanks to the U.S. government and private companies. Vantor, Ukraine’s commercial partner, recently launched six new satellites, bringing its total to 10. Its satellites can now cover up to seven million square kilometers of the planet daily, enough to scan the Ukrainian battlefield multiple times, said Will Cocos, the company’s chief transformation officer.
Satellites can provide images of the same area up to 15 times a day, helping soldiers detect subtle changes in terrain that could indicate possible Russian targets.
Additionally, images can be obtained in just 15 minutes, whereas it would normally take several hours. This is a significant improvement over the recent past, when it sometimes took days.
“We’re basically giving them a satellite,” Cocos said. “They’re telling it what to shoot.”
Commercial satellite companies maintain vast archives of imagery, allowing field commanders to study the smallest changes in the environment – footprints in a field, fallen trees, recently cleared land – that could indicate a hidden target.
“Overall, it looks like a revolution in military technology,” said Robert Tollast, a military expert at the Royal United Services Institute, a think tank in London.
Ukrainian drones – news
Over the past six months, Ukraine has begun using British drones to strike targets deep inside Russia. Among them is the Nyan jet drone, which was being tested by the Royal Navy.
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has also officially approved the new Ukrainian drone “Dovbush T40” for use in the army. The drone is capable of staying in the air for more than a day. This resource is enough to hit targets even in the Urals and Western Siberia.
This is a huge improvement in satellite imagery for the troops. Great for the good guys! Thank you USA.
I fully agree. Even the best weapons are useless without knowing where to put them.