Fighting is in our code: How IT innovations are working to protect Ukraine

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We have the fundamentals for this: many IT professionals and a real battlefield for testing technologies. After the start of the full-scale invasion, 96% of IT companies were able to fully resume their operations by May. Today, the IT industry is increasing exports, developing new projects, and breaking new ground. According to the NBU, over the first 9 months of 2022, the volume of computer service exports increased by 13%, reaching a total of almost $5.5 billion.

At the same time, a systematic development of digital tools for Ukraine’s security and defense sector is underway. These include special tools for identifying war criminals, integrating data from different sources, and developing national situational awareness systems. Thanks to these technologies, the Ukrainian military knows more about the enemy than he can imagine.

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One of the powerful Ukrainian developments is Delta, created by the Ministry of Defense’s Innovation Center according to NATO standards.

This platform allows our forces to see the battlefield in real time. Aerial reconnaissance can provide data on the enemy’s location using satellite images, data from drones, and information from chats. Our defenders are constantly monitoring enemy positions, which gives them a significant advantage on the battlefield.

In the field of intelligence, drones are playing a key role. Reconnaissance UAVs allow us to control the front line, and strike UAVs allow us to hit enemy positions. Drones correct artillery dozens of kilometers away, help our forces be effective during urban battles, and even directly take out enemy tanks.

Another innovative Ukrainian technological development are marine drones. Russia launches one of every five of its missiles from the sea. Our country could not resist these attacks, but thanks to Ukraine's development of maritime drones, the Russian Federation will lose its undeniable advantage on the water. At the same time, the cost of a marine drone is ten times less than that of a ship: about 10 million hryvnias.

We are already creating expertise and can be the first in the world in the creation of innovative protection systems.

To do this, we must make our own virtual dome ,which will work with the help of modern technologies. This will allow us to monitor the country’s radio frequency spectrum 24/7, significantly improving defense and minimizing human losses.

This virtual dome will consist of three parts: control over the country’s electromagnetic spectrum, analysis and countering of enemy technical intelligence, and electronic warfare. This system will be active both in the air and on land. For example, aircraft and UAVs can be tracked and identified by their radio emissions. Cruise missiles can be tracked via their satellite navigation systems. All this will allow us to quickly respond to a threat, prevent losses, and make decisions faster.

In order to move even faster, we need to innovate and continue to fight bureaucracy. Ukrainian manufacturers need to be able to receive certification quickly rather than waiting for months.

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The main task is to catalyze the development of Ukrainian military tech startups. Numerous hackathons are already being held for creative teams developing innovative technological solutions in the field of defense. The Ukrainian Startup Fund is providing funding for military-tech startups.

Now we are using all of our country’s resources to the fullest extent, and after our victory, we will be able to export technological solutions in the use of drones, quick restoration of communications, cyber defense, and artificial intelligence technologies. We are becoming a military industry trendsetter for the whole world.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine