Mothership drone technology is reshaping the war

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BLUF: Ukrainian developers are setting their sights on a new concept in drone warfare that packs a much more powerful punch than traditional systems: mothership drones, carriers that coordinate and launch smaller drones for long-distance missions behind enemy lines. 

In other news: Huless has revealed more details on its Highline-T tethered drone, which can act as a repeater, providing stable communication for combat missions. Ukrainian manufacturers step up efforts towards drone autonomy to reduce the human presence on the battlefield. And President Zelenskyy approved Serhiy Boyev as the new chairman for the Interagency Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation and Export Control Policy.

THE BIG STORY: Mothership drones: how they work and where they’re effective 

Mothership drones have become one of the most promising technologies in modern drone warfare. Providing the delivery of numerous FPV strike drones over long distances, these systems enable their effective use behind enemy lines. The systems' features increase their resilience against electronic warfare, enhancing their operational reliability in contested environments.

The concept originated as a way to carry out long-range attacks at a low cost, roughly a few thousand dollars, using small drones.

Because small drones don't fly that far, a larger mother drone that could carry them was needed, said Andrii, Chief Technology Officer at Stratforce Solution, a defense company that specializes in developing autonomous drones, including the fixed-wing Gogol-M mothership drone. He asked us to withhold his full name due to security concerns.

The Russians first reported the use of these Ukrainian drones in January 2024. The first confirmed reports of the use of mothership drones appeared in May 2024, when the Ukrainian 414th Separate Battalion Ptakhy Madyara (now the separate brigade Ptakhy Madyara, or ‘Madyar’s Birds’) began testing a new type of drone capable of carrying several FPV drones.

The Gogol-M mothership drone has a 300-kilometer range and a 9-kg payload, which allows it to carry 2 FPV-drones, Andrii said. This allows for attacking targets on the front line and deep behind enemy lines to eliminate logistics centers, command posts, or equipment beyond the reach of conventional FPVs, he added.

In April, the 413th ‘Raid’ Separate Unmanned Systems Battalion used a mothership drone to strike Russian engineering equipment in the Kursk region. The system was based on a wing-type drone carrying two FPV drones. The wing-type drone also served as a signal repeater.

Another advantage of mothership drones is coordination. They can carry several drones simultaneously and release them synchronously or with a delay, depending on the chosen tactics for any given operation. In practice, such coordination is most often done through parallel or sequential manual control of several drones. This technical solution allows the operator to launch multiple vehicles from a single platform and control two drones at the same time.

"We drop one drone, it reaches the target, and the next starts flying. This allows for maintaining control over the mission and partially implements the swarm principle. Also, it reduces the workload for the operator and the risks for the main [mother] drone, which remains out of the direct threat zone,"  Taras Mazurak, founder of the company Vidchayduhy (‘Desperadoes’), explained.

How does the technology work?

• A mothership drone carries one or more drones, either FPV or other types.

• The operator downloads all key points and targets before the launch, after which the system can be fully autonomous. The operator only needs to bring the drone to the position and initiate the mission. When the mission is set and a drone is launched, the FPV-drones automatically execute it without constant control.

• Typical FPV drones are attached to a platform from above or below, and are sometimes used as guided missiles in ‘bomber’ mode as they are launched from the mothership drone.

• The launch is performed by an operator using a catapult, which is usually placed in a truck. This significantly reduces the risks for the crew and speeds up the launch.

• A web application lets users see all drones in real time, provided they are digitally connected. This ensures that the system can be managed with minimal operator involvement, so much so that the operator might even be in another city.

Although FPV drones are vulnerable to electronic warfare, a mothership drone is not, because it flies using proximity-based technology instead of relying on a GPS signal. And at the altitudes it flies, electronic warfare is not used, Andrii said. It is also difficult to shoot down at higher altitudes. 

“If they [Russians] use some expensive missile against it, we will also benefit from it,” the CTO of Stratforce Solution added. This way, Russians are forced to exhaust limited and costly resources.

Despite the technological breakthrough, the mothership drone system is not a universal solution to all combat missions.

The mothership drone often acts as a communication relay, meaning that if the other drones lose contact with it, they won’t be able to complete the mission and will fail as a loss of connection causes them to crash. However, if the drones operate autonomously or use alternative communication channels, they can continue the mission even without contact with the mothership drone, Andrii added.

Russian forces are also trying to introduce the technology of mothership drones, but there have not been any confirmed successes so far.

"Yes, we both have test flights. But the enemy does not have this solution in production. For now," Serhiy Flash, an expert on military radio technologies, wrote.

In April 2024, Russian troops announced the use of mothership drones, including the Pchelka (Bee) UAV, designed to drop FPV drones. But the effectiveness of this device was limited due to its large size. The bulky design and slow speed complicated its deployment.

Despite active production and growing interest in mothership drone technology, the Ukrainian military has been tight-lipped about its practical use. Counteroffensive.Pro reached out to several Ukrainian units and brigades, but they declined to talk due to security concerns.

The use of mothership drones extends beyond airborne purposes, as the carriers can also be used on land or at sea, depending on the specific mission. 

The key challenge is ensuring communication with drones launched from the mothership platform. If there is no reliable repeater that transmits the control signal, then the drone that carries out the attack must be completely autonomous, Andrii told Counteroffensive.Pro.

BUSINESS LUNCH TOPICS: What our reporting shows!

1. Zelenskyy approves a new chairman for the Interagency Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation and Export Control Policy

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Serhiy Boyev, the first deputy of the Ministry of Defense, as the new chairman of the Interagency Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation and Export Control Policy under the National Security Council on May 12. 

The commission is responsible for developing state policy on military cooperation and export control. This panel is also in charge of authorization for the right to export/import military goods, establishing cooperation with foreign states, and monitoring compliance with international obligations.

Ivan Havryliuk previously held this position. He was also the first deputy of the MoD, but he left the position in April 2025.

The new head must now appoint a new commission within two weeks. Among others, the State Service for Export Control will also be a part of this commission.

"The list is public. I think it won't undergo fundamental changes. Perhaps they'll only replace people who were dismissed from their positions," Oleh Tsilvik, acting head of the SSEC, told Counteroffensive.Pro.

Take a look at the commission's previous compositions here. 

2. Huless developed a drone for persistent signal relay

The Ukrainian company Huless has revealed new details on its Highline-T drone, which stands out in its ability to hang in the air. After takeoff, it automatically maintains its direction and position above a point on the ground.

“This is the uniqueness of the product, that it cannot fly anywhere like other drones, but it can stay in the air for a long time, which makes it an ideal repeater or observer,” explained Taras Semeniuk, founder and CEO of the company. 

The drone can stay in the air for at least 4 hours at up to 100 meters with a cable length of 120 meters. On top of that, it is GPS-independent and uses software that relies on images. It can be installed in the rear, about 8-15 kilometers from the combat line, where the enemy's electronic warfare is not active, but the Ukrainian GPS jamming system is. The system includes a Highline-T UAV, an automated winch, a ground control station, a uniaxial antenna mount for repeater antennas, and a heading camera. Most of the components are European-made. This increases the cost of the product, but it also increases the reliability and durability in use, said Semeniuk. 

“We also have a battery backup system installed. In addition to the fact that there is a station on the ground with a backup power supply, there is also a backup power supply on the drone. In case of failure of all systems, there is also a parachute,” the developer noted. 

Developers are also working on creating this kind of relay for ground-based robotic systems, and repeaters for marine drones are also included in future plans.

3. Prospects and challenges of drone automation 

The efficiency of shooting down and jamming Ukrainian drones has significantly increased as the war has progressed. With that in mind, a major focus for Ukrainian developers now is facing Russian countermeasures against Ukrainian drones, Viktoriia Yaremchuk, CEO at Farsight Vision, a platform for 3D analytics and drone navigation, told Counteroffensive.Pro.

We talked to Yaremchuk just after a drone automation event that saw companies and developers discuss where Ukraine stands with the autonomy of unmanned systems. According to the Farsight Vision CEO, the key areas of automation for developers right now are: 

• Returning to realistic tasks: abandoning theories and visions in favor of practical solutions to actual problems based on experience and lessons learned from the past.

• Focusing on communication: improving data transmission methods.

• Developing navigation for ground robotic systems, particularly creating accurate 3D terrain models that allow effective terrain navigation, especially at night and in conditions of communication loss.

This rapidly developing field still faces many challenges. These include technical instability in real combat conditions, limited software compatibility, issues with equipment, and difficulties in scaling solutions to real-world frontline conditions. Even the most promising developments require thorough testing, adaptation to specific scenarios, and attention to detail, Yaremchuk said.

Ukrainian orders/legislation we’re tracking: 

By: Oksana Zabolotna

Establishment of the Ukrainian Space Forces

Draft Law №13255 dated 02.05.2025

Stage: submitted for consideration to the parliamentary Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence.

Initiators: A group of 33 Members of Parliament from the factions Servant of the People, Holos, European Solidarity, and the ‘For the Future’ group, led by Fedir Venislavskyi.

Why it’s important:

• The establishment of the Space Forces is important for Ukraine to strengthen national security, ensure technological sovereignty, and integrate into modern defense standards, including countering threats from space (like intermediate-range or intercontinental ballistic missiles).

Proposals:

• to include a separate branch—the Space Forces—in the structure of the Armed Forces.

Link to Defense Tech:

The establishment of the Space Forces will promote the development of new technologies.

The development of Ukraine’s Space Forces includes the creation and integration of high-tech solutions into key areas of modern warfare: satellite early-warning systems for missile launches, secure communications, space intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) infrastructure, as well as technologies to counter exo-atmospheric threats or developing domestic defense satellites.

What’s Next: In order for the draft to be considered in the plenary session, a decision of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence is required.

ON THE MOVE: Professional movement, promotions and industry news.

Know someone in the defense tech space who has made a professional move? Drop us a line at [email protected]! 

• Matthias Lehna was promoted to the director of business development & government relations at Quantum Systems, a German drone maker. Previously, he was the head of business development & GR and set up the company's capital office in Berlin.

• Defence Builder, an acceleration program for Ukrainian defense tech startups, is seeking a Program Manager.

30 SECOND ELEVATOR PITCH:

Griselda is a Ukrainian defense-tech tool that delivers real-time situational awareness and rapid response capabilities in critical environments. It helps teams detect threats, verify intelligence, assess risks, and make faster, smarter decisions. 

Griselda’s secure data fusion platform transforms fragmented information into real-time operational insight. Its infrastructure is scalable, adaptable, and already proven in the field. This works for battlefield coordination and humanitarian aims as well.

“Our technology filters noise, flags threats, and empowers units to act faster and smarter. It’s not just a data tool — a strategic advantage,” Alex Teplukhin, CEO & co-founder of Griselda, said. 

Having secured a seed investment round, the company is now scaling its product and sales efforts and preparing for the next funding round by the end of 2025.

MUST READS:

• Defense Intelligence of Ukraine has presented the new Magura W6P maritime reconnaissance drone. It has two additional hulls and resembles a trimaran, which makes it more stable on the water. This drone has a gross weight of 1,900 kg, 400 kg of which is the payload, and it is designed to perform only reconnaissance and patrol missions.

• The Ukrainian company Aerobavovna has developed a new model of a tethered balloon designed to deploy powerful electronic intelligence and warfare systems at high altitude. It can lift loads of up to 30 kg. The balloon's power system ensures continuous equipment operation for several days.

• Ukrainian drone maker Ukrspecsystems is launching UAS Components, a store that specializes in selling UAV components. The store is targeted at developers of unmanned systems and offers a wide range of components for the production and maintenance of UAVs.

• Ukraine has tested Czech MTS strike drones that are controlled by artificial intelligence and can operate autonomously without GPS or radio communication. These drones have already been used in combat for a few months.

• The Ukrainian developer of the HIMERA encrypted communication system has been included in a list of 30 startups that have received funding from the Google for Startups Ukraine Support Fund. As part of this program, companies will receive up to $100,000 in non-equity financing, mentoring support from Google, and access to the company's products. The second Ukrainian defense-tech firm from the list is ZVOOK, a developer of acoustic sensors.

• Ukraine’s MoD has authorized the use of Nebokrai mobile drone workshops for the Armed Forces. These workshops resemble a metal container and are designed to repair and maintain copters near the frontline. They’re equipped with autonomous heating, lighting, ventilation systems, and specialized drone repair tools.Share the newsletter

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