Pavuk Dopkhina, Seagull, Vidun R and more: what relay-carrier platforms are available on Brave1 Market and what determines their price

In the Russo-Ukrainian War, the range and accuracy of strike UAVs are determined not only by battery capacity or pilot skill. The main limitation is the radio horizon: complex terrain, urban development, and active use of EW equipment interrupt direct line of sight between the ground station and the FPV drone. The solution to this problem was UAV repeaters — airborne infrastructure platforms that raise the signal reception and transmission point hundreds of metres into the sky.

Unlike conventional multirotor drones (quadcopters), a repeater carrier is a complex radio-electronic node where control and video stream receivers and transmitters are located on a single frame. The main task of developers of such systems is to avoid mutual blinding of antennas and to ensure their automatic reorientation in flight.

“In effect, the repeater becomes an airborne infrastructure on which the execution of the entire mission depends. It must stably maintain position, correctly orient the antenna, refrain from creating mutual interference between its own radio modules, and ensure high-quality transmission of control and video signals,” explains an Omnitech Defence engineer.

Types of UAV repeaters

By architectural approach and method of equipment integration, the market for unmanned repeaters is divided into two main design categories:

• Specialised complexes with a built-in repeater — monolithic architecture systems where the flight platform, antennas, radio modules, and software were originally developed as a single mechanism.
• Universal carrier platforms — flexible and repairable drones engineered as a stable “airborne tower” for the installation of a unit’s third-party or customised repeating equipment.

Separately, by airframe type, these systems are divided into multicopters (for precise hovering over a position) and aircraft platforms (for long-duration patrolling and coverage of large areas).

What determines the cost of a UAV repeater

The price of airborne repeaters ranges from UAH 100 thousand for a basic platform to millions for a heavy complex. This difference is primarily explained by configuration and the technological complexity of internal systems.

The largest price gap is created by the supply type. More affordable solutions are universal “bare” carriers for the installation of any unit equipment. “Specialised complexes are supplied as a ready ‘out-of-the-box’ ecosystem, which includes several aircraft, built-in repeaters, ground control stations, remote masts, and transport boxes,” explain the manufacturers of the Seagull UAV.

The second factor is the complexity of the antenna system. Fixed antenna mounting on the frame is significantly cheaper than advanced gyro-stabilised horn antennas with servomotors. Such mechanisms require separate computing units and software to autonomously maintain position and stabilise the aircraft.

And, of course, price is shaped by physical flight parameters. Increasing a copter’s hover time from 40 to 80 minutes requires expensive high-capacity batteries, whilst switching to composite aircraft airframes for operation at altitudes over 6 kilometres entails a significantly higher level of material intensity and manufacturing.

What is on Brave1 Market: specialised platforms

• Pavuk Dopkhina (Omnitech Defense)

This is Ukraine’s first codified UAV repeater, created in close cooperation with engineers from the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade. The 30-inch multicopter platform was developed not as a universal drone, but as a highly specialised airborne infrastructure.

Thanks to autonomous optical stabilisation, the complex is capable of holding its position and altitude up to 1000 metres motionlessly without relying on satellite navigation, while wind resistance up to 15 m/s and hover endurance up to 40 minutes allow it to operate in difficult weather conditions.

The main value of Pavuk lies in the supply of a ready-to-use combat system. The drone is equipped with a digital control and video repeater with a gyro-stabilised horn antenna, providing effective communications at a distance of up to 60 kilometres.

The cost of the drone is approximately UAH 350,000.

• Murakha (Omnitech Defense)

“Murakha” is a more compact variation of a specialised repeater, developed in an 18-inch format with the support of Brave1 grant programmes. The craft was created for manoeuvrable groups that require high deployment speed and ease of transportation.

The platform provides up to 37 minutes of endurance in the air at working altitudes up to 1000 metres. Like Pavuk, Murakha features an integrated digital video and control repeater, a gyro-stabilised antenna, and optical stabilisation algorithms.

The cost of Murakha is UAH 275,000.

• Saker Scout C (Twist Robotics)

This is a codified heavy-class unmanned system designed to provide digital video communications and control at ranges from 50 to 70 kilometres. The platform is capable of carrying up to 3 kg of payload, provides 45 minutes of hover endurance, and is equipped with day and thermal cameras. The system features autonomous return, visual stabilisation without GPS, and soft landing.

Both repeater antennas feature servomotors and custom software for automatic position holding. The system also supports operation from deep cover via a 50-metre ground station extension cable.

The cost of the drone in its basic configuration is approximately UAH 1.2 million, and as part of an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) – UAH 3.8 million.

Universal platforms for repeaters

• SeaGull

SeaGull is a flexible 14-inch copter carrier platform with a maximum optical stabilisation height of up to 800 m, providing a hover time of up to 50 minutes with a payload of up to 1.5 kg.

For precise orientation, an IMU inertial system and visual stabilisation are used. The main engineering feature of SeaGull is an integrated dual-frequency video signal receiver. This allows the repeater to stably receive signals from strike UAVs that change frequency directly during a flight mission to bypass EW. Furthermore, the frame design is adapted for the fastest possible battery swapping at the position for repeated sorties.

The cost of the drone on Brave1 is UAH 200,000.

• RETRIX DRONE

A codified multifunctional drone whose main advantage is high endurance and time in the air. Thanks to a powerful battery, the platform is capable of hovering and performing repeating missions for up to 80 minutes.

The drone is optimised for operation as part of unmanned groups and can create a stable radio bridge between crews and strike craft at ranges up to 80 km. The platform is designed for a payload of 1–1.5 kg and is integrated with control systems.

For navigation in conditions of satellite signal suppression, a proprietary optical stabilisation system is used, ensuring precise heading and position holding day and night at altitudes up to 1000 metres.

The cost of the drone on Brave1 is UAH 175,000.

• WarDog TRN from Roboneers

A tactical codified copter from Ukrainian company Roboneers, created for transporting and holding third-party repeating equipment. The platform has a hover time of 45 minutes, carries up to 1.5 kg of payload, and is designed for operation in high-dust, high-humidity, and active electronic warfare conditions.

The UAV features high crew protection and reliable navigation. To operate without GPS, a combination of inertial and visual stabilisation systems is applied. The control panel is equipped with a 20-metre remote cable and remote antennas, allowing the repeater to be controlled from a closed shelter or dugout.

The cost of the drone on Brave1 is UAH 550,000.

• E-BUN

This is a copter platform developed for missions requiring long-duration positioning of a repeater over a single point or for accompanying strike UAVs. The device is capable of remaining airborne for up to 60 minutes, carries a payload of up to 1 kg, and features high wind resistance — maintaining controllability in wind gusts up to 20 m/s.

The drone’s design is intentionally made as universal as possible. The frame dimensions allow for the installation of repeating modules of various sizes — from lightweight compact units for dynamic accompaniment to bulky stationary systems.

The cost of the drone on Brave1 is UAH 100,000.

• Horyn

A copter carrier designed to extend radio coverage area in conditions of complex terrain, dense urban development, and electronic suppression. The drone accelerates to 100 km/h, has a combat radius of up to 20 km, and provides an operational optical stabilisation altitude of up to 1500 metres day and night.

A feature of the platform is the capability for a significant increase in endurance through the installation of enlarged battery packs. The complex is equipped with both day and thermal cameras for situational awareness and positioning, combining satellite navigation with visual odometry.

The cost of the drone on Brave1 is UAH 120,000.

• Vidun R

Unlike all previous carriers, Vidun R is a codified fixed-wing UAV with a wingspan of 2.3 metres and a take-off weight of 8 kg. The composite airframe is designed for high speeds (up to 200 km/h) without flutter and features a low stall speed, guaranteeing a soft landing and simplicity of operation.

The main advantage of the aircraft concept is altitude and operational duration. Vidun R operates at altitudes over 6 kilometres with an operational radius of up to 100 km, while its time in the air ranges from 3.5 to 6 hours. This makes it suitable for long-duration patrolling and providing continuous radio coverage over large sections of the front line.

The cost of the drone on Brave1 is UAH 160,000.