The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has received its first patent for a unique technology for detecting enemy FPV drones, called "Vityrak M."
This innovative development, created by Ukrainian military engineers at the Center for Scaling Technological Solutions (CSTS), is already actively being implemented in the armed forces, providing an additional advantage on the battlefield.
Vityrak M is an innovative device designed to detect FPV drones of the enemy. It was developed by the military—for the military. Given the increasing use of kamikaze drones of various types by the enemy, the availability of such detection systems is critical to enhancing the capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces," said Valerii Churkin, head of the CSTS of the General Staff.
According to him, the device has already been codified and approved for use by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. This is the first case where a military unit has acted as the developer of a sample of military-technical equipment and successfully codified it for supply.
The patenting was made possible thanks to a new department for intellectual property issues established in September 2024 at the Ministry of Defense’s Main Military Justice Department.
The department, consisting of nine individuals, including four patent attorneys, is forming a new practice of intellectual property protection, which has been absent throughout Ukraine's independent history.
Before the full-scale invasion, the intellectual property protection system in the Ministry of Defense effectively did not exist, which posed a serious security threat to innovations.
In February 2024, at the initiative of Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, a study was conducted on the accounting and protection of intellectual property rights within the Ministry of Defense and the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The results showed that the Ministry of Defense did not own any intellectual property objects and that systematic work in this area was completely lacking.
"Previously, we did not have a clear and effective system for protecting defense-related developments. Now, we are implementing mechanisms that will protect the unique technologies created by our servicemen to ensure they are not lost or appropriated by third parties," explained Ilya Kostin, head of the intellectual property department at the Ministry of Defense’s Main Military Justice Department.
On the international level, Ukraine has already signed 27 security agreements with various countries, ensuring the protection of defense technologies transferred to it. This demonstrates significant trust from international partners and opens new opportunities for cooperation in the defense sector.
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine guarantees the preservation and protection of intellectual property transferred by its partners, creating a reliable foundation for the implementation of technologies in defense production and supply.
"This is extremely important for Ukraine, as now every serviceman and every military unit can approach our department with their innovative development and receive protection. This creates conditions for the development of cutting-edge technologies that strengthen the country’s defense capabilities and meet global standards," explained Yuriy Okhromeyev, senior officer of the intellectual property department at the Ministry of Defense’s Main Military Justice Department.
The beginning of reforms in the intellectual property system within the Ministry of Defense lays the foundation for future changes. For 2025, there are plans to expand this direction and establish a dedicated intellectual property management division within the Main Military Justice Department. This approach, similar to practices already existing in the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom and the United States, will allow for more effective protection and implementation of technologies in the country’s defense interests.
Given the complexity of this process during wartime, building a reliable intellectual property protection system is critically important for Ukraine as a state. Technologies developed by the military during combat are highly valuable, and their protection helps avoid the risk of loss or illegal appropriation by third parties.
In the long term, this will not only strengthen the defense capabilities but also contribute to shaping Ukraine's image as a technological state capable of developing innovative solutions to protect its own security and that of its partners.
