The Ukrainian miltech company Frontline has introduced the ZOOM reconnaissance drone, designed to compete with the Chinese DJI Mavic series. The new drone was showcased at the DefenceTech Valley event organized by Brave1. ZOOM is part of a drone complex that includes a ground antenna and a control point, allowing for immediate operation right out of the box without extensive setup.
Frontline is a Ukrainian MilTech company founded in August 2023 by four Ukrainians. Since 2014, the founders have created a number of developments for the Armed Forces, which have been implemented in the troops and are successfully performing their work. The company is now focused on the development of air and ground systems for robotic defense and attack.
According to Militarniy, the Ukrainian drone has the potential to complement or even replace Chinese models. ZOOM and other Frontline drones utilize their proprietary communication platform, "Hertz," for control and video transmission, which is claimed to protect against enemy electronic warfare (EW) interference. This feature enables operators to conduct reconnaissance in conditions of strong radio-electronic counteraction while maintaining control over the drone.
Additionally, ZOOM has incorporated one of the most sought-after features by drone operators: the ability to maintain its position without GPS. The drone is equipped with a visual navigation module that allows it to hover in place without operator assistance. Currently, it can "hover" at an altitude of 200 meters with a maximum deviation of 5 meters, even in wind speeds exceeding 10 m/s. It also features automated takeoff and landing functions.
“Our platform ensures communication with the drone in two frequency bands across a 225 MHz bandwidth. The system is designed to transmit four times more control packets per second than necessary,” stated Pavel Kosolapkin, co-founder and technical director of Frontline.
He added that there are many more surprises hidden "under the hood" of the platform, which are expected to provide Ukrainian military forces with a tactical advantage on the battlefield.
ZOOM has already undergone joint departmental testing, confirming its specifications. While its price has not yet been disclosed, it is asserted to be competitive with Chinese counterparts. Frontline is currently finalizing the coding and preparing for mass production to supply the drone to the Defense Forces.
