Summary of "В яких розробках зацікавлені BRAVE1?! Нові технології у дронах - Денис Логвиненко, Brave1"
Brevan (Brave1 / Brevan Technologies) — summary
Context and approach
- Brevan’s UAV division (headed by Denys Logvynenko) focuses on defense-oriented, practice-driven drone development. The emphasis is on solving real combat tasks by working directly with front-line units rather than pursuing “technology for technology’s sake.”
- Development approach highlights short feedback loops: live demos, training grounds (polygons), hands-on testing with the military, iterative refinement, and codification of products for procurement.
Funding / current campaign
- Fundraising target: 500,000 UAH for drone repeater equipment for the “House Unmanned Systems” attached to the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade.
- Reported progress at broadcast: ~48% (~243–247k UAH).
- Rationale: repeaters are critical — without them many drones (thousands of FPV/wings) cannot operate effectively at range.
Technical priorities and product categories
- UAV taxonomy: dozens of classes exist; speakers referenced 6 broad categories and up to ~28–30 detailed types.
- Brevan prioritizes practical classes needed now:
- cheap reconnaissance aircraft,
- small bombers / kamikaze (loitering munitions),
- repeaters / carriers,
- communications solutions.
- Core theme: focus on integrating and scaling available solutions and closing organizational gaps rather than inventing radically new UAV principles.
Communications, repeaters, and connectivity
- Repeaters extend the radio horizon (examples cited for ~40 km links) and are essential for long-range operations.
- Common field problems:
- lack of repeater integration,
- mismatched frequencies between devices,
- single-connection designs.
- Frequency issues: devices limited to 5.8 GHz or 915 MHz are problematic. Recommendation: manufacturers should support multiple connectivity options (mesh, digital links, carriers) and ship repeaters/antenna kits for out-of-the-box interoperability.
- Security considerations: analog links are interceptable; digital connections, mesh matrices, and standardized repeater integration are preferred for security and reliability.
Product development, manufacturing, and scaling
- Small teams can prototype well but often lack:
- production scale (need tens/hundreds/thousands monthly),
- service/after-sales (firmware support, field training),
- logistics and working capital to operate without prepayment.
- Recommended paths for small manufacturers:
- partner with larger manufacturers,
- focus on service and field integration,
- iterate with combat testing,
- provide clear documentation and training.
- Iterative development expectation: several initial failed or incomplete combat tests, followed by refinement, codification, and scaling.
Device- and mission-level technical specifics
- Reconnaissance planes: build cheap, scalable scouts with appropriate optics and connectivity for specific task ranges (e.g., 20–30 km), balancing cost and mission specs.
- Small kamikaze (loitering munitions): require compact design, correct ballistic/attack profiles, predictable standardized munition settings in firmware, and repeaters/digital links for reliable delivery.
- FPV targeting / “pointing”: potentially valuable but underused; manufacturers must demonstrate battlefield effectiveness with data (camera quality, stable communications, and user training are critical).
- Bombers/kamikazes: need greater autonomy, better guidance, remote-control options, camouflaged antenna complexes, and digital links.
- Modularity: easily replaceable RX/VTX modules and similar pragmatic features significantly reduce field maintenance time.
- Power and airframe integration: batteries, payload placement, center of mass, motors/props and aerodynamic changes affect handling and require re-testing after modifications.
Interceptors, swarms, and IR guidance
- Interceptor drones and reusable low-cost anti-drone systems are in development; main challenges include automation, area-saturation capability, and independence from constant operator control.
- Swarm concepts are being tested but face difficulties without robust positioning (GPS/GLONASS) and reliable communications; some grouped autonomous behaviors are feasible but complex.
- Work on IR-guidance heads for interceptors exists but is technical and ongoing (details largely undisclosed).
Testing, demos, guides, training and reviews
- Brevan runs demo days and polygon tests (repeater demos, fiber-optic demos, small bomber demos, integration testing) to:
- let military personnel test equipment,
- expose manufacturers to real operational conditions,
- foster direct manufacturer–unit partnerships leading to refinement and procurement.
- Outcomes: producers that engage and iterate can convert tests into orders; there are cited examples of such producer+unit collaborations reaching production and battlefield use.
- Manufacturer recommendations:
- include service and training with products,
- prepare simple feedback forms for military testers,
- proactively collect usage statistics to convince decision-makers.
- Public content: Brevan publishes polygon reports and interviews (some material is restricted for OpSec).
Organizational and non-technical barriers
- Main bottlenecks are organizational:
- shortage of manpower,
- slow scaling,
- weak horizontal sharing of field experience,
- limited logistics.
- Military constraints: busy personnel, tight finances, and reluctance to test uncodified tools—so manufacturers should deliver ready-to-use kits and training.
- OpSec: some innovations are intentionally kept secret, limiting broad dissemination but sometimes necessary.
Countermeasures and fiber-optic work
- Passive anti-drone and fiber-optic countermeasures are recognized areas; Brevan focuses on unmanned components and coordinates with groups working on passive systems. Specific technical details are withheld for security.
Analytics and forecasting
- Brevan’s analytics function identifies enemy patterns and recommends technical directions (e.g., where longer-range scouts or repeater strategies will be required).
- Forecasting guides investment decisions, such as introducing cheap recon planes before a problem becomes urgent.
Calls to action and community needs
- Donate to the repeater equipment fund (prizes include items like a BirdDrone sitcom kit with instructions).
- Brevan seeks specialists: engineers, project managers, and people able to integrate repeaters and communication matrices.
- Advice to innovators: don’t wait for large organizations to adopt ideas—submit proposals, partner with manufacturers, or join defense teams to implement solutions.
Reviews, guides, tutorials and useful resources
- Demo/testing reports and videos from Brevan polygons (public when possible; some content limited for security).
- Interview with Bird Squadron CEO available on Brevan’s channel.
- Streams and discussions with domain experts (examples: Oleksiy Babenko, Arsen Zhmadil) for deeper technical context.
- Practical manufacturer suggestions: include training guides, simple feedback forms for military testers, and ship repeater/antenna kits with multiple communications options.
Concrete numbers & examples
- Repeater fundraising: target 500,000 UAH; ~48% (~243–247k UAH) collected at broadcast time.
- Connectivity examples: devices limited to 5.8 GHz or 915 MHz are problematic; digital/mesh solutions and repeaters are needed for longer-range tasks (radio-horizon examples ~40 km).
- Integration status: only ~10 visible repeater integrations reported at one stage; tens of aircraft types still need integration.
Main speakers / sources
- Kateryna Suprun — host.
- Denys (Denys Logvynenko / Denis Logvynenko) — Head of UAV Division, Brevan; primary guest and technical source.
Other persons mentioned
- Mykola Beliskov, Arsen Zhmadil, Oleksiy Babenko, Mr. Serhiy, Mr. Edward, Natalia Koshnerska, BirdDrone / Bird Squadron CEO — referenced as contributors, partners, or interviewees.
Bottom line: The main gaps are not new UAV physics but integration: reliable communications (repeaters/mesh), modular and serviceable kits, scaled production, user training, and improved organizational processes so field-proven technologies can be rapidly adopted and maintained. Immediate priorities are fundraising for repeaters and recruiting human resources to integrate and scale solutions.
Category
Technology
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