UKR: How ‘Mission Control’ software centralizes drone warfare

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BLUF: Ukraine is making mandatory a unified digital system to coordinate and assess drone operations - Mission Control. The module is expected to provide a comprehensive picture of the combat effectiveness of all drone units. However, there are substantial concerns about the centralization of valuable battlefield information and cybersecurity. 

Three Ukrainian companies announced joint production ventures with German partners to manufacture UAV and UGVs products for Ukraine.

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Ukraine is introducing a new command-and-control module for drone operations designed to systematize performance tracking and improve coordination across units.

Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced in late January that all drone operations will now be unified under the ‘Mission Control’ module. 

Mission Control is a planning and command module within the DELTA combat system that enables real-time coordination of drone missions. It allows commanders to monitor crews’ activities, prevent airspace conflicts, and reduce interference between neighboring units. 

This operating system was developed a year earlier and is available within the DELTA battlefield management system.

Before this, using Mission Control was optional and left up to each unit to decide whether or not to implement it. Now, however, the system will be mandatory across the entire Ukrainian military to fully digitalize drone operations.

The move is meant to tap into unused potential among the country’s drone units: Only about 50 of nearly 400 units generate around 70 percent of all strikes, Fedorov noted. 

Developed by the Brave1 defence innovation cluster under the “mathematics of war” department, Mission Control will effectively help to enhance units that have been less active in drone operations, since without a unified system, the state cannot see the full capabilities or combat effectiveness of the remaining units in order to make improvements.  

Only a small number of drone units are currently tracked as ‘highly effective’ using Ukraine’s existing tracking system, while the rest are not fully measured. “Highly effective” units are those that consistently deliver verified operational results, such as confirmed strikes, successful missions, and efficient use of different strike assets .

Mission Control will also help reduce paperwork and introduce a clear, digital way to record and analyze battlefield data.

Mission Control integrates operational tasking, real-time positional data, target confirmation, and post-strike reporting into a single interface. Instead of fragmented logs and separate reporting channels, units input mission data directly into the system, where it can be monitored and analyzed at higher command levels. 

The system minimizes signal disruptions, lowers the risk of friendly electronic warfare interference, and provides precise time-based targeting coordinates. It also automates drone and mission records and enables systematic performance tracking.

Rolling it out among all units will bring several structural changes. 

First, this will make it possible to assess the combat capability of all drone units. This includes analyzing personnel levels, operational intensity, mission profiles, and effectiveness across specific frontline sectors and weapon systems.

Second, the system enables clearer demarcation of operational responsibility zones between neighboring units. This helps pilots working in close proximity avoid duplicating reconnaissance and strike missions against the same targets. 

“At the brigade and corps level, it monitors the activities of subordinate units, assesses their effectiveness, and allows performance comparisons. It also delineates responsibility zones to prevent overlapping coverage. This applies not only to reconnaissance but also to logistics, rocket strikes, and fire support,” Bohdan Havryliuk, a staff sergeant for a UAV unit, told The Arsenal.

The most important feature of Mission Control is its end-to-end analytics based on real digital mission data. 

At the same time, some military specialists caution that Mission Control’s practical impact may vary depending on the operational level and unit structure. 

While the system offers advanced coordination and analytics tools, its full functionality is most relevant at the operational-tactical level, where large-scale synchronization of forces and assets is required.

For smaller units operating at the company or battalion level, Mission Control often functions primarily as a digital flight and mission log, replacing traditional paper records rather than fundamentally changing how drone operations are conducted. 

Some military personnel interviewed by The Arsenal also pointed out additional shortcomings. They noted that the module often freezes and loads data slowly. In addition, the friendly-fire avoidance feature did not function properly until recently, as not all units were using Mission Control.

At the same time, Mission Control itself does not evaluate mission effectiveness. This responsibility lies with a designated module operator, usually a commander or headquarters officer, who assesses performance using predefined indicators. Currently, this specialist has to both manage the system and submit separate analytical reports.

This role may be integrated into either a staff or non-staff ISTAR position, depending on the unit’s organizational structure. ISTAR – Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance – is a NATO-standard approach to battlefield analytics. One of the first units to implement this model in Ukraine was the 13th National Guard Brigade Khartiia.

The entire DELTA system is being developed to be useful both for soldiers in the trenches all the way up to the commander-in-chief, Havryliuk said.

“To explain it simply: if you’ve seen American movies with huge holographic screens, showing where everyone is and what they’re doing – this is what it looks like. A real high-tech battlefield. The only problem is, without Starlink, we’d be working with maps, compasses, and paper,” he added.

Soldiers can learn to use Mission Control through the Army+ app, in the DELTA section. This includes UAV Crew Planning – Mission Control module, with short videos and tests.

Mission Control also has export potential and can be used by NATO countries as part of the broader DELTA ecosystem. 

“It is a user-friendly unified accounting and management service adapted for all branches and weapon systems,” 'Tytan,' a UAV crew commander from the 4th Battalion of the 117th Territorial Defense Brigade, told The Arsenal.

In October 2025, for instance, DELTA was used by Ukraine and 24 NATO countries as the main system during NATO REPMUS exercises to coordinate many different types of drones. In the future, its capabilities can support NATO and partner countries in improving interoperability, training, and joint operations.

There is no direct Russian equivalent to Mission Control. While Russia operates several command-and-control systems for its military, open-source information suggests that these platforms do not offer centralized UAV fleet management. There is no publicly known system that consolidates drone coordination, situational awareness, and battlefield analytics into a single platform.

Centralizing and digitalizing drone data brings clear advantages for planning and coordination. However, it also creates serious security challenges. Sensitive information – like drone launch points and flight paths – could be exposed if devices are hacked or accessed without authorization.

“The main danger is aggregating everything in one place. If someone gains access to a single device, they get my access too,” a source specializing in cybersecurity in the Armed Forces told The Arsenal.

“The system has security at both the server and overall architecture level, but any complex system of this scale draws special attention from the enemy. The more users there are, the larger the attack surface. More points, more potential victims,” the source added.

When asked about the security risks involved with Mission Control, the Ministry of Defence declined to comment.

Additionally, there are still unknowns about Mission Control’s cybersecurity: the encryption algorithms used (at rest, in transit, end-to-end), the physical location of servers and data – especially when integrated with third-party services – how access is segmented, the balance of hardware vs. software FIDO2 keys among real users, and incident response mechanisms, the source said. 

The uncertainty raises questions about the reliability of the security architecture of the system. Due to security considerations, very little is known about these mechanisms.

It should also be noted that no system is completely secure. While the DELTA team works on preventive cybersecurity measures, Russian state-backed hacking groups with far larger budgets are constantly probing for potential vulnerabilities. Even the best security architecture cannot fully eliminate human-factor risks.

German defense tech company STARK has signed a contract to supply its loitering munitions system to the armed forces of a NATO country. Following the signing of the contract in early February, the first tranche of systems is set to be delivered the same month.

“What helped STARK most was being fast, showing real test results, and proving that our systems are designed for the challenges of today's battlefield,” a STARK representative told The Arsenal. 

According to her, European defense systems are not designed for the rapid development of cutting-edge technologies, while modern warfare changes every few weeks. Feedback from Ukrainian users helped refine navigation and AI-based target recognition features, allowing the company to adapt for highly contested environments.

The company learned to work quickly largely from the realities of actual combat in Ukraine, where they are expanding their existing production capacity. The company announced plans last week to open a 2,000-square-meter R&D center in Ukraine, which will provide local training and ongoing support for end users. The opening is planned for the first quarter of the year. 

Ukrainian UGV manufacturer Tencore has announced the launch of a joint production venture with Germany’s FERNRIDE. The focus will be on manufacturing Termit UGVs designed for logistics, casualty evacuation, mine-laying operations, and fire support. The first products are slated for rollout in the second quarter of 2026.

The duration of the joint venture has not been disclosed. “This is a joint production initiative that reflects a long-term partnership and future new products,” Maksym Vasylchenko, co-founder and CEO of Tencore, told The Arsenal. He said  cooperation will not be limited to the Termit UGV, as the partners are also working on expanding the joint product line.

Ukrainian miltech company TAF Industries and German drone manufacturer Wingcopter have signed a memorandum to launch joint production in Germany.

“If we are able to use existing German facilities rather than build production from scratch, we can expect drone deliveries from Germany within four months,” Volodymyr Zinovskyi, CEO of TAF Industries, told The Arsenal.

The companies are targeting a minimum output of 10,000 drones by the end of the year. In addition to scaling Ukrainian-developed systems, the partners plan to produce a Wingcopter-designed UAV and jointly develop new platforms for the EU and NATO markets. At the same time, under the first agreement, 100 percent of the drones produced at the joint facility will be supplied to Ukraine, Zinovskyi added.

Two other companies, Ukrainian Airlogix and Germany’s Auterion, agreed to team up for joint UAV production in Germany under the Build with Ukraine initiative. Read more about how the program works in our previous newsletter.

The Fourth Law, a Ukrainian autonomous robotics company, has raised a new round of strategic investment from U.S. public safety technology group Axon. The funds will go toward R&D, the company told The Arsenal. 

Another key priority is the development of new autonomy capabilities to protect cities and critical infrastructure from Shahed-type drone attacks, according to CEO and founder Yaroslav Azhnyuk.

The company connected with Axon through the BRAVE1 defense tech cluster, which later facilitated the process that led to the investment agreement. The company said the fundraising process proceeded without complications.

The investment amount and other terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

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By: Oksana Zabolotna

Regulations on the Main Directorate for the Life Cycle Support of Weapons and Military Equipment 

Order of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine dated January, 6 2026

Why it’s important: This order establishes a single, clear system for managing the development, testing, and deployment of new military technologies.

Whereas companies previously had to interact with multiple departments, often without a clearly defined center of responsibility, a single authority is now designated to see a military technology through from initial conception to its deployment by the armed forces. 

This reduces bureaucratic delays, simplifies the admission of new systems to testing and operation, and makes decision-making processes clearer for developers.

Proposals:

Stage: Entered into force on January 6.  

Initiator: The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. 

What’s next: Implementation of the order. 

DevDroid is a manufacturer of combat-proven robotic warfare systems for remote battlefield operations. The company designs and mass-produces reconnaissance, strike, and evacuation UGVs, remote weapon stations, and AI-enabled modular control systems that reduce personnel losses and increase operational efficiency.

Its products are combat-validated, government-adopted, NATO-certified, and integrated with third-party UGV platforms, enabling a scalable B2B model. With in-house R&D and manufacturing, DevDroid projects revenues exceeding $240M within three years.

According to the company’s CEO, Yurii Poritskiy, the investment request is for $10M to scale serial production, localize manufacturing in the EU, expand international sales, and participate in NATO-aligned defense programs.

CORRECTION: The Arsenal made a mistake in the original version of the newsletter. We misspelled Maksym Vasylchenko's surname.

We apologize for this error.