new ZOOM drone.Photo: dev.ua
The Ukrainian company Frontline has presented a new reconnaissance drone, ZOOM, at the DefenceTech Valley event by Brave1. This drone is designed specifically for war conditions, with the ability to withstand electronic threats and hold its position without GPS navigation. This was reported by internetua.com and the Militarny source, citing the manufacturer’s official press release.
ZOOM specifications: innovations in exploration
ZOOM is part of a complete unmanned system that includes a ground antenna and a control centre. The drone is powered by a communication and video transmission platform called Hertz, developed by Frontline. It allows the operator to control the drone even in difficult electronic warfare conditions, making it ideal for tactical reconnaissance on the battlefield.
The drone can stay in the air for up to 40 minutes and has a tactical range of up to 15 km. A feature of the platform is a dual frequency-scan communication channel (FSC) in the 225 MHz band, which allows it to transmit four times as many control commands as necessary for reliable operation. Pavlo Kosolapkin, co-founder and CTO of Frontline, notes that this creates a significant advantage for the Ukrainian military on the battlefield.
Visual navigation module: positioning without GPS
One of the key features of ZOOM is the ability to maintain its position without using GPS. The drone is equipped with a visual navigation module that allows it to hover at an altitude of up to 200 metres with an accuracy of 5 metres, even in winds of more than 10 m/s. This technology ensures the drone’s stability without operator intervention, which is an important requirement for the military.
Prospects for use
The ZOOM drone is currently undergoing codification before mass production. It is expected to be delivered to the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the near future. Although the price of the UAV has not been announced, preliminary data suggests that it will be comparable to the price of the popular DJI Mavic, making it a competitive option.
The latest ZOOM development has the potential not only to complement but also to replace Chinese DJI drones, which are widely used in Ukrainian military operations, opening up new opportunities for intelligence and unmanned surveillance.
