TAF Industries Demo Day: low-cost reconnaissance drone Babka, airborne relay Kolibri 13 FR1, and the PowerKey system

On 19 September, Ukrainian defence tech developer TAF Industries held a Demo Day, showcasing in action the products it had introduced in the summer of 2025. Among them were the delayed-launch system PowerKey, the low-cost reconnaissance drone Babka, and the airborne relay FR1 “Kolibri 13,” which Defender Media had previously covered. During the demo, the developers also shared details that had not been disclosed before.

PowerKey – delayed-start system

PowerKey allows UAVs to remain in standby mode for extended periods with minimal power consumption. The system enables full power shutdown via remote control, except for the ELRS module, and supports standby for up to 72 hours, with testing under certain conditions extending up to 14 days. Energy consumption is around 30% of an 8,000–15,000 mAh battery over the entire standby period.

The main advantage of PowerKey is that it disables the flight controller, significantly conserving battery life. Currently, there are no equivalents of this system on the Ukrainian market, as other manufacturers only offer partial or software-based solutions that cannot achieve the same energy efficiency.

When combined with FPV drones, PowerKey ensures stable communications where the ground station is inoperative. The system waits for a command, and the Last Mile module completes the operation without manual control.

TAF Industries was among the first in Ukraine to codify Last Mile modules for automatic UAV guidance and has already delivered the first 10,000 modules.

Babka – a budget tactical reconnaissance drone

The drone has been developed as a digital UAV reconnaissance platform for use in high-risk areas where deploying more expensive systems would be impractical. Its operational tactical range is 40–50 km, and the battery allows up to two hours of flight, sufficient for gathering intelligence during transit and on-site.

The drone is equipped with optics featuring 30× optical zoom, delivering high-quality imagery from altitudes of up to 1,000 metres. Its body is made from pinolite, which reduces radar signature, lowers production costs, and simplifies repairs. The unit package for operational teams includes four drones, a laptop with pre-installed software, a video reception station, antennas, a ground-based repeater, and a tablet with the “Kropyva” programme.

Kolibri 13 FR1 – aerial repeater for complex missions

The Kolibri 13 FR1 aerial repeater extends radio range in challenging terrain, including forested areas, hills, and urban environments. It has a maximum flight altitude of 1,000 metres, with optical stabilisation functioning without GPS. Operating modes include day and night, with individual platforms equipped with stabilised optics.

The system comprises two carriers, a ground control station, additional video antennas, and a transport case. It is ready for immediate deployment out of the box, and operator training takes one day. The cost of the solution is half that of comparable systems, such as the Matrice.