Ukraine Unveils HRIM LTE Modem to Control Drones Amid Starlink Outages

Ukrainian defense firm Militech Group developed the HRIM LTE modem to maintain control over unmanned aerial vehicles and ground robotic platforms during Starlink connection disruptions, Militarnyi reported.

The device boosts LTE signal output to 1.5 watts—six times higher than standard 0.25-watt modems—ensuring stable data transmission even in areas with weak cellular coverage and providing an operational range of up to 45 kilometers.

The technology emerged after frontline units recorded major data transmission delays via Starlink in October 2026, creating risks for operations where unmanned systems perform between 50% and 90% of combat missions, including reconnaissance, strikes, logistics, and mining.

The modern battlefield relies on fiber-optic spools, Starshield military terminals, Starlink networks, and LTE modems connected to local mobile networks.

Militech Group CCO Vasyl Polishchuk stated, “Given the range and cost limitations of fiber-optic spools, as well as the instability of external partners in providing access to Starlink, today LTE appears to be almost the only reliable solution for military copters and ground robotic platforms,” according to Militarnyi.

He added, “That is why back in 2024 our R&D team, anticipating these challenges, developed technology to boost the LTE signal to 1.5 W. It provides seamless switching between base stations and an operating radius of up to 45 km.”

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War in Ukraine

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Now featured on the Brave1 platform, the HRIM modem has passed field testing and is ready for combat deployment. The unit is built on a standard MikroTik LTE modem equipped with a custom signal amplifier and features two SIM card slots, while antenna configurations are tailored individually to specific unmanned systems.

Batches of 500 units are being produced for Ukrainian manufacturers throughout 2026, with international availability scheduled for January 2027.

On October 14, Ukrainian presidential technology adviser Serhii Beskrestnov warned that new restrictions on Starlink satellite communications endangered one of Ukraine’s primary defenses against high-speed, jet-powered Russian Shahed attack drones.

Because Ukrainian forces relied on Starlink terminal integration to guide interceptor drones for airspace defense as well as to support frontline logistics and long-range missions, Beskrestnov emphasized that the partner-imposed service limitations threatened to undermine the nation's capacity to counter faster aerial threats effectively.

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