Three Ukrainian companies will receive USD 1 million each to implement technologies to combat enemy drones

This was reported by the press service of Ukraine's Ministry of Digital Transformation. 

On June 24-25, the second annual Anti-Shahed Drone Hackathon took place, during which 50 teams presented projects to representatives of the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine. As a result, three winners were selected to present the most effective and efficient projects.

Each of the winners will be awarded USD 1 million in contracts. The funds will be used to develop technology to destroy enemy drones in the Ukrainian sky. It will also help to save powerful air defense resources.

“In fact, Ukrainian infrastructure is attacked by Iranian drones on a daily basis. In May alone, at least 400 Shaheds were launched against Ukraine. In total, at least 1,200 attack drones have been launched into Ukraine since September last year. Ukrainian specialists are capable of surprising the world and effectively countering an enemy invasion. Our task is to support the developers as much as possible, to create conditions for mass production of alternative systems to counter the Iranian Shaheds,” said Oleksandr Kubrakov, Vice Prime Minister for the Restoration of Ukraine, Minister of Community Development, Territories and Infrastructure.

Major General Volodymyr Koval noted that Ukrainian defenders need to use new models of equipment, as the enemy is not sleeping and is developing and improving existing weapons, including drones. Therefore, in order to effectively counter enemy UAVs, he said, it is necessary to introduce new systems for detecting, identifying and destroying targets.

“Every major war sets new trends in the development of military technology. World War I created the war of tanks. World War II - of aviation. This war has shown that the next decades will see wars of unmanned aerial vehicles and countermeasures against them. Therefore, we have to create these modern technologies to overcome the enemy at the front today and to defend our territories in the near future,” said Yuriy Shchyhol, head of the State Special Communications Service of Ukraine.

For reference. The Anti-Shahed Drone Hackathon is an event for developers, engineers, cyber specialists, and enthusiasts who create advanced systems and technologies to detect, track, and destroy enemy drones. The projects presented at the event were evaluated by experts from various branches and types of military forces, military structures, and digital technologies.

The Anti-Shahed Drone Hackathon was initiated by the Ukrainian Armed Forces' General Staff, the Ministry of Digital Transformation, and the Ministry of Infrastructure as part of the Drone Army project.

• On August 30, 2022, Ukraine hosted the first international Drone Hackathon. During the event, 6 winners were selected from 30 participating teams, who turned their ideas into a product in six months and demonstrated it at the testing ground.