Ukraine launches in the fight “mother drones” with artificial intelligence. A new era of automated war
In a conflict that has transformed Ukraine into a testing laboratory for the military technologies of the 21st century, a new chapter is now written: autonomous drones, capable of executing precision without human intervention, hundreds of kilometers inside the territory controlled by Russia.
Drones have become some of the most important weapons in the Ukrainian Arsenal/ Photo: X
According to Ukrainian Strategy Force Solutions (StratForce) company, “Mothership” type drones – air vessels equipped with artificial intelligence, meant to transport and launch attack drones in autonomous missions have been recently tested. The technology, called Gogol-M, represents a combination of autonomy, financial efficiency and deep penetration capacity in enemy areas.
“The mission costs about $ 10,000. Compared to traditional missile systems, which reach $ 3-5 million, the difference is huge,” He explained, for Forbes, Andrii, the technical director of the company, who does not disclose his full name for security reasons.
Each Gogol-M drone can carry two FPV (First-Person View) drones, equipped with a light version of the smartpilot system-an autonomous flight software that allows to identify and hit targets without depending on GPS or human operator. Mothership returns to the base, while the attack drones continue their mission.
“We managed to imitate the flight of a human pilot with the help of AI. It was a real challenge,” admits Andrii.
How the system works
SmartPilot integrates multiple sensors, advanced rooms and a Light Detection and Ranging system, turning the drone into a kind of flying vehicle, capable of detecting the ground, recognizing targets and making real-time decisions. Think of an autonomous car, but in the air-with all the risks and complexities associated.
This capability allows drones to perform not only direct blows, but also “ambush” type missions: they can land near an aviation runway, waiting for hours or even days until the target appears in the range. Likewise, they can be used for recognition, convoys' tracking or even eliminating mobile targets.
“We can perform autonomous target searches, pursuit, and strokes,” ” adds Andrii.
For now, the company declares a monthly production capacity of 50 Gogol-M drones and 400 FPV drones, waiting for significant military contracts. Although filming during operations have not yet been made public, Stratforce states that the field tests have provided “positive feedback”.
Implications behind innovation
Ukraine, confronted with an opponent with traditional numerical and technological superiority, has chosen rapid adaptation and innovation as means of survival. This generation of drones is not only a technical success, but also a strategic move. In a war where resources count at each decision, the dramatic reduction of the cost per mission can tilt the balance in favor of the defender.
At the same time, the introduction of autonomous combat systems raises serious – ethical, tactical and geopolitical questions. Who decides when and what target should be removed? What happens if the algorithm is wrong? And how will other states, including Russia, react to this acceleration of automation in conflict areas?
What is clear: the Ukrainian front is no longer just a classic battlefield, but it becomes a testing space for the future of the war. A future in which decisions are made by algorithms, and the attacks can come from drones that “think” alone. A future that has already begun.
