Ukraine conflict: Kara Dag Technologies develops new UAS detector

Kara Dag Technologies developed the Obriy wearable drone detector, currently in use on the Ukrainian front lines. (Kara Dag Technologies)

Ukrainian drone detection specialist Kara Dag Technologies is developing a new variant of its Obriy artificial intelligence (AI)-powered unmanned aircraft system (UAS) detector, incorporating advances in radio frequency (RF) detection and other innovations learnt from active use by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) in the war against Russia.

Kara Dag Technologies was founded in 2023 by Ukrainian information technology (IT) engineers to address the growing threat of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to both militaries and civilians, said Andrew Poberezhniuk, co-founder and chief operating officer (COO) of the company.

Its major offering for militaries is the Obriy 1.3 UAS detector, which is used by the AFU on the front lines to detect incoming UASs across multiple frequency bands (1.2 GHz, 2.4 GHz, and 4.8 GHz), Poberezhniuk said. The wearable system is designed to detect the approach and direction of UASs up to 4 km away, including DJI-type drones and first-person view (FPV) systems.

The system is built on advances in AI, machine learning (ML), and radio signal recognition. It can be connected to a monitor for video interception, Poberezhniuk said, providing insights into the FPV drone's point of view and approach vector. “It also offers the possibility of integration with electronic warfare (EW) systems, ensuring they activate only upon detecting a hostile signal rather than operating continuously, as it damages the jammer and its battery,” he said.

The system's new customers are military personnel, volunteers, or individuals involved in civilian evacuations, he added. “We have recently expanded our production capabilities, enabling us to focus not only on Ukraine but also on international markets where our technology can enhance security and protection.”