The first units of the DJI Matrice 300 RTK state-of-the-art reconnaissance drone have been delivered to Ukrainian soldiers. Field tests will be conducted in the near future.
DJI Matrice 300 multicopters for Ukrainian servicemen, August 2022. Image source: Mykhailo Fedorov
The first new drones have been delivered to the 72nd Mechanized Brigade. Currently, no additional information has been given on the actual number of these drones in use. on the territory of Ukraine, in ongoing battles against the invading Russian army. However, according to a notice sooneragreement to buy 78 Matrice 300 RTKs was signed with DJI and the first ones arrived in the country in early August.
News about DJI Matrice 300 enlisting in the army was announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov in a Telegram parcel. According to the original plan, this unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) would be used to determine the exact location of enemy forces, while monitoring other factors affecting the safety of the Ukrainian army. .
The DJI Matrice 300 is a professional industrial grade product manufactured since 2020. Reconnaissance is not part of its main ‘official’ purpose; however, the first attempts to monitor exercises on the battlefield using the same model was directed by the UK Department of Defense a few months earlier.
One of its most important features – the drone has an onboard thermal imager that allows this drone to operate at night. This model has a flight time of 55 minutes on a single battery charge. The six-way obstacle avoidance system automatically detects objects up to 40 meters away. The load capacity is almost 3 kg (6 pounds).
The drone is IP45 rated weather resistant and can resist winds of up to 15 m/s. The DJI Matrice 300 RTK can be controlled up to 15 km (9.3 miles) away from the controller. One of the coolest features: this model can be piloted by two co-pilots. According to the manufacturer, the 300 RTK has an integrated artificial intelligence (AI) subsystem that can be ‘trained’ during a mission and can then automatically repeat the same flight again, simultaneously. test execution time at the same point of interest.
Ukraine is currently implementing the Army of Drone project. This comprehensive program covers the systematic purchase and maintenance of new drones, and provides the necessary training for existing and new pilots. In total, a sum of nearly 13 million USD (474 million UAH) was set aside for this purpose. The fundraising campaign is still going on. The first newly acquired attack drones and reconnaissance UAVs are already on the front lines.
