The Ukrainian company Buntar Aerospace has developed the Buntar-1, a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) reconnaissance drone, Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation reported.
The Buntar-1 drone is designed for real-time reconnaissance, target guidance, artillery adjustment, and directing the use of various weaponry, including both barrel and rocket artillery. The standout feature of the Buntar-1 drone is its uninterrupted communication capability, even under electronic warfare conditions.
According to reports, one of the drone’s developers is a member of the Security and Defense Forces, ensuring the Buntar-1 was tailored to meet the practical needs identified on the front lines.
Additionally, Buntar Aerospace has integrated proprietary software into the drone, automating the work of the external crew and enhancing their situational awareness.
The Buntar-1 has an operational range of approximately 50 kilometers. In its next iteration, the Buntar-3, developers aim to extend the drone’s flight time to three hours. An experienced crew can master the Buntar-1 in just 3 days, while training from scratch takes about 3 weeks.
The report also highlights feedback from a commander of an aerial reconnaissance unit operating in the Kharkiv region. He noted that 100 minutes of flight time with the Buntar-1 proved far more effective than other reconnaissance drones with a flight duration of around 3 hours.
At the beginning of October, the Netherlands announced a €400 million investment to support the development of reconnaissance, combat, and other drones for Ukraine.
-924c3c302c27387e19f6c44aaeb98745.png "Maryna Kulakova")