Translated from German by google

Origin from Kristina Thomas ©

https://www.n-tv.de/politik/Russland-hat-die-Masse-die-Ukraine-das-Entwicklungstempo-id31019242.html

Russia has the numbers; Ukraine has the pace of development

On a field about half an hour outside Kyiv, one can catch a glimpse of the future of warfare for a day. The latest aerial and ground drones buzz over a course specially prepared with obstacles next to a military base. Developers and start-ups have set up tents beside the track, showcasing prototypes and vying for the interest of commanders and military officials. Drones are no longer the only stars of the show; the focus has expanded to include anti-drone systems, swarms of naval drones, and autonomous warfare.

The demonstration was organized by the Ukrainian accelerator Defence Builder, a defense-sector program established specifically for this purpose. For now, it remains purely a demonstration—one of thousands of tests taking place in Ukraine every week. However, the high-profile audience makes it clear that this is about more than just a technical showcase. In a war increasingly defined by the speed of innovation, events like this help determine who learns faster—and thereby gains a decisive advantage.

Vlad—call sign "Pirate"—is also on the field, watching the Trident Group team launch their AI-controlled drone. "I support various brigades, the Ministry of Defense, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs as an advisor to the Air Operations Division. I’m everywhere and nowhere at the same time." Since 2022, he has been shuttling monthly between the front lines and the rear, organizing technology tests and connecting developers with the military—thereby enabling a new innovation ecosystem characterized by short lines of communication.

Technical Glitches Are Part of the Process

A modified BRDM-2M—a Soviet-era armored scout vehicle—races around the test grounds. It is not being steered from the driver's seat, but rather from the small tent of the Estonian startup Telearmy. The team has developed a solution for the seamless remote control of military and civilian vehicles that employs multiple radio networks in parallel to ensure connectivity, even under combat conditions.

In terms of communication, the conditions could hardly be more realistic: ongoing Russian attacks on the capital are causing frequent network outages throughout the region—disruptions similar to those seen at the front line. The connection drops right before the military observers' eyes; technicians step in to fix errors and reboot systems. Communication between the vehicle and the operator is not yet running smoothly. Yet, the underlying concept is what matters—and whether it holds the potential for further development.

Four months of development—and now, the reality check

A few weeks later, in an underground parking garage in Kyiv. Dark suits, polo shirts, and white sneakers have replaced the uniforms. Amidst booths showcasing drones, sensors, and software, espresso is being served, and companies are once again pitching their ideas—though this time, to investors. For four months, alongside frontline units, more than 30 mentors with experience in defense and business startups worked with the participating companies. They were also supported by a network comprising investors, lawyers, defense manufacturers, government agencies, the European Commission’s office in Kyiv, and the NATO delegation in Ukraine.

Line Rindvig, the Danish CEO of the Defense Builder Accelerator, welcomes the guests. "Today marks the conclusion of our four-month accelerator program. The companies have had the opportunity to introduce their solutions to the military, investors, and defense manufacturers, and to showcase the progress they’ve made over the past few months. These are exactly the kinds of conversations we need—they can lead to partnerships that make a real difference on the front lines."

Not a competition in the traditional sense

At the coffee tables, almost every conversation revolves around the same question: How can the path from problem to solution be shortened? Right in the middle of it all is Marko Kushnir from General Cherry. The company is one of Ukraine’s largest drone manufacturers and the event’s key partner; it awarded $25,000 each to the four most promising of the nine participating startups, including the Trident Group. Kushnir explains that the AI system is of interest for their own drones. "We are very open to collaborating with these small teams and sharing our resources and expertise."

"Our biggest competitor isn't another Ukrainian defense company, but the Russian defense industry. That’s why there is no competition here in the traditional sense—we are united by a common goal: to defeat Russia militarily." "What matters most, therefore, is the race for the best technology—and that is taking place on both sides."

"Develop decentrally, scale centrally"

According to Anton Verkhovodov of the venture capital firm D3 – Dare to Defend Democracy, it is this decentralized approach that drives Ukraine's success. "Innovation requires decentralization, whereas scaling requires a centralized approach." Ukraine has already mastered this balance, Verkhovodov notes.

While Ukraine relies on private initiatives to develop new solutions, many NATO armies still take the opposite path: "They first define their requirements and then commission the industry to implement them. This often leads to underwhelming results."

In Ukraine, by contrast, there was a need from the very beginning to drive innovation using private capital—an approach that has now paid off. "Innovations come primarily from the private sector. However, the government creates the right framework conditions—and then captures those innovations." Startups receive targeted support, and developers are brought together with military personnel. "This allows new technologies to reach the troops quickly—and enables soldiers to figure out the best way to use them."

Verkhovodov says he is not worried that Russia might catch up: "We aren't afraid of Russia replicating the ecosystem." While the Russians may be masters of scaling, he adds: "Now that we are reclaiming our country, I would say our system works better." The model cannot simply be transferred to China or Russia, as the cultural and societal conditions differ, Verkhovodov explains. "Above all, they lack the horizontal connections that we have."

There seems little doubt that drone warfare (God forbid aided by AI) is going to dominate how wars are fought for the near future at least......until robots take over I guess.

6 minutes ago, MIke B Bad said:

There seems little doubt that drone warfare (God forbid aided by AI) is going to dominate how wars are fought for the near future at least......until robots take over I guess.

It always needs boots on the ground. At the moment russian losses in comparence to ukrainian are 8:1.

1 minute ago, Schoggibueb said:

It always needs boots on the ground. At the moment russian losses in comparence to ukrainian are 8:1.

I guess the robots can be fitted with boots.