Ukrainian military outlines pressing battlefield requirements

Representatives from Ukraine’s Armed Forces have announced their three most pressing battlefield capability gaps, to better inform the wider European defence industry of the country’s current requirements. 

Officials from Ukraine’s Uncrewed Systems Command and the National Guard of Ukraine made the comments during a panel session at the Apex Europe conference on 8 October in London. 

They highlighted the following capabilities that are urgently required: 

• Sensors of various types 

• Satellite technology 

• Tactical short-range air defence 

Regarding sensors, one of the officials specifically called for radars, particularly low-cost systems, and those that can be mounted on uncrewed surface vessels.  

Another official then stressed Ukraine's need for tactical short-range air defence capabilities that can engage “type A and type B” classifications of drone. 

These types of drones typically refer to small platforms weighing under 2 kg. 

Starlink was also discussed, with officials underlining the military’s reliance on the satellite communications system and the urgent need for a European alternative. 

The EU’s Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity, and Security by Satellite (IRIS²) programme is an example of such a capability under development.