From Magura to SPECTER: Which imaging UAVs are available on Brave1 Market

Positional warfare and the dense concentration of electronic warfare (EW) systems along the front line are forcing the military to rethink aerial reconnaissance. Conventional tactical recon drones that stream live video depend heavily on a stable radio link and often lose effectiveness under enemy jamming. This is where another type of aircraft comes in: photo drones.

These systems fly pre-programmed routes, photographing designated areas one after another. The result is a set of images that can be used to build orthophoto maps and compare the terrain at different times. This makes it possible to track changes to buildings, fortifications, infrastructure and the location of objects.

Reconnaissance with photo-drones is not particularly fast, but it is essential for studying areas of interest in detail. In some sections of the front, there is no alternative.

The state marketplace Brave1 Market lists photo drones as a separate category of reconnaissance UAVs. Defender Media reviewed the models in the marketplace’s open catalogue.

Saker Hunter

This fixed-wing UAV has a 24 MP camera, a maximum flight range of 240 km, and an endurance of up to 3.5 hours. The operator sets the route and mission parameters, after which Hunter carries out the flight and imaging autonomously. It does not require continuous manual piloting or an uninterrupted communications link.

Saker Hunter has an operating altitude of up to 1,100 m and a maximum speed of 125 km/h. According to the manufacturer, the UAV can detect up to 90 confirmed targets during a single mission.

The price listed on Brave1 Market is UAH 420,000, or UAH 1.8 million as part of a UAV system.

Besomar 3210 FV

The Besomar 3210 FV is a long-endurance fixed-wing uncrewed aerial vehicle designed for aerial reconnaissance, position monitoring, and artillery target correction. It carries a stabilised digital camera with 3× optical zoom and utilises encrypted communications with frequency-hopping spread spectrum technology.

The UAV has an operational range of 60 km, an effective imaging range of 600 m, and an endurance of over three hours. The imaging aircraft is catapult-launched and features an automated landing function, complete with airbrakes for rapid deceleration and precise landing.

Price on Brave1 Market is UAH 225,000.

Magura

Magura is a fixed-wing UAV launched from a catapult. It is equipped with a 12 MP daylight mapping camera with a 60° field of view. Its stated effective imaging range is 400 m.

The aircraft has a cruising speed of 90 km/h and a maximum speed of 120 km/h. Its endurance is up to 120 minutes, with a stated operational range of 40 km. Navigation relies on a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and a six-axis inertial measurement unit.

The stated price of the UAV is UAH 116,000.

Chaklun-01 and Chaklun-02

Both models are designed for reconnaissance, patrolling, and surveillance. They can use a forward-facing camera to stream imagery to the operator and a separate camera to record video or take photographs. Chaklun-02 can also be fitted with a gimbal-mounted camera.

Chaklun-01 has a cruising speed of 80 km/h, a controlled radius of at least 40 km, and an autonomous radius of at least 55 km. Its stated endurance is approximately 90 minutes.

Chaklun-02 has a slightly lower take-off weight and a greater operating radius: at least 50 km under operator control and at least 70 km autonomously.

Camera capabilities depend on the configuration. The manufacturer lists options offering still images at up to 50 MP and video recording at up to 8,000 resolution at 30 frames per second. Both UAVs can be launched by hand or with a launcher. They land in a conventional fixed-wing manner or by belly landing.

Chaklun-01 costs UAH 300,000, while Chaklun-02 costs UAH 320,000.

LF-160 and LF-240

LF-160 is a specialised fixed-wing system for high-resolution aerial imaging and orthophotomapping. It is launched from a catapult and equipped with a daylight camera with a resolution of 6,000 × 4,000 pixels and a stated effective imaging range of 2,000 m.

LF-160 has a cruising speed of 65 km/h, an endurance of up to 180 minutes, and an operational range of up to 200 km. The UAV stores images on an onboard data storage device while simultaneously transmitting them to the ground station. Recording can continue even after the control link is lost.

LF-240 is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) platform designed for aerial imaging, mapping, and monitoring. It carries a 61 MP daylight camera with a fixed focal length of more than 50 mm and a stated effective imaging range of 6,000 m.

LF-240 has a cruising speed of 72 km/h and can also remain airborne for up to three hours. Its VTOL capability allows it to operate without a runway.

The stated price of LF-240 is UAH 1.34 million.

SPECTER

SPECTER is a VTOL UAV designed for reconnaissance and aerial imaging. It is equipped with a two-axis stabilised gimbal camera, a lens with a focal length of 35–85 mm, and a stated optical zoom of 10–40×. Its effective imaging range is 3,500 m.

The aircraft has a cruising speed of 90 km/h, a tactical radius of 90 km, and an endurance of 165 minutes.

According to the manufacturer, SPECTER has a maximum operating altitude of 3.5 km, can hover for up to 10 minutes, and can carry an additional payload of up to 4 kg.

The UAV costs UAH 1.8 million.