Ukraine is witnessing the development of AI systems for drone operations as the country seeks a technological advantage in warfare. These AI-enabled drones aim to combat signal jamming by the Russians and allow for larger groups of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to operate. The development of AI drone technology in Ukraine focuses on visual systems for target identification and navigation, as well as complex programs enabling UAVs to work in interconnected swarms. Swarmer, a Ukrainian company, is working on software that connects drones in a network, allowing for instant implementation of decisions across the group. Swarmer's CEO, Serhiy Kupriienko, believes that scaling up operations with human pilots becomes impractical, making AI essential for managing swarms of drones effectively. The technology being developed by Swarmer, called Styx, allows for coordination between reconnaissance and strike drones, enabling each drone to plan its own moves and predict the behavior of others in the swarm. The implementation of AI in drone operations is not without its challenges. Concerns about the ethical implications of weapon systems devoid of human judgment have been expressed.

Nevertheless, AI is already being utilized in Ukraine's long-range drone strikes and has shown promise in targeting military facilities and oil refineries inside Russia. The need for AI-enabled drones has become more critical as both sides in the conflict deploy Electronic Warfare (EW) systems to disrupt signals between pilots and drones. Signal jamming has significantly affected the success rates of drones, particularly the small and inexpensive FPV drones used for targeting enemy vehicles. To counter the EW threat, drone makers are developing functions that allow drones to lock onto targets through their cameras, effectively nullifying the impact of jamming. Developing cheap AI targeting systems for drones is crucial in Ukraine. The goal is to deploy these systems extensively along the 1, 000 km front line, where a large number of FPV drones are employed weekly. By running AI programs on affordable devices like the Raspberry Pi, the cost of implementing a simple targeting system can be kept as low as $150 per drone.