A UAV operator from the Orion unit carried out a frontline mission while located 1,100 km from the drone

Operators from the Orion unit were among the first in the world to test remote control technology for heavy Vampire drones via satellite internet. Defender Media was told this by the unit itself, which is part of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

As drone operators’ positions are among the enemy’s priority targets, the military began looking for a way to move pilots away from the front line. They consulted on the matter and found a solution in autumn 2025. “Ukrainian engineers were able to adapt remote control technology for heavy drones via satellite communication. This made it possible to move pilots a significant distance from the front and establish a stable control channel,” says Vladyslav Zolotaryov, an officer of the unit headquarters’ control group.

To achieve this, a module is installed in the drone that enables the control signal to be transmitted via satellite. To operate the drone over long distances, the operator requires a laptop, a remote controller, and a secure internet connection. The military adds that satellite communication enables the drone to operate more reliably, fly longer distances, and carry out more complex missions.

It is used, in particular, in the Kupyansk sector to deliver supplies to troops. Radio-signal drones may be unable to operate there due to electronic warfare and difficult terrain. In one instance, a unit operator located more than 1,100 kilometres from the front remotely delivered cargo to a military position.

Orion is now seeking similar solutions for reconnaissance UAVs. “These are already being developed and tested,” Zolotaryov announces.