Ukraine is using drones like hovering WiFi repeaters to help attack drones reach farther

Business Insider | Sinéad Baker, Jake Epstein

Ukrainian defence firms including Twist Robotics, TAF Industries, and Roboneers are deploying airborne signal repeater drones to extend line-of-sight communications over 50 kilometres and bypass Russian jamming. These specialized relay platforms, derived from platforms like the Saker Scout or repurposing bomber UAVs, hover aloft to bridge radio signals between operators and strike drones operating at extended ranges.

Electronic warfare remains a constant threat. While official Ukrainian doctrine aims to secure stable control links across complex terrain, practical execution requires rapid two-week software and hardware update cycles to stay ahead of Russian countermeasures. By elevating control signals high above terrain, these flying relays protect pilot positions from radio-frequency geolocation while giving strike platforms greater operational depth. Russia has similarly adopted airborne relay tactics to project attack drones deeper behind Ukrainian lines, prompting Western militaries like the US Marine Corps to study comparable airborne command and relay concepts.

Comment

The deployment of dedicated relay UAVs like the Twist Robotics Saker Scout alters the spatial dimensions of tactical command and control along the line of contact. By elevating the line-of-sight node hundreds of metres above terrain obstacles, operators can maintain low-altitude command links over distances exceeding 50 kilometres. This structural separation between pilot emitters and line-of-sight transceivers directly complicates Russian direction-finding operations aimed at locating crew stations.

Consequently, this aerial relay node creates a critical single point of failure within the tactical kill chain. Russian electronic warfare systems targeting the Saker Scout's uplink frequency can sever command links to multiple subordinate strike drones simultaneously. Neutralising the airborne Saker Scout forces Ukrainian flight crews back to direct ground-antenna links, exposing pilot concealment positions to Russian artillery tracking.

Strategic Question for Discussion

If Russian electronic warfare units prioritize neutralizing high-altitude relay platforms like the Saker Scout, how resilient is the broader Ukrainian strike drone kill chain against sudden losses of operational range?

The available evidence suggests that reliance on airborne repeaters like the Saker Scout creates a volatile dependency, where tactical range gains are vulnerable to targeted frequency jamming. If Russian forces deploy counter-UAV systems specifically calibrated for airborne relay frequencies, Ukrainian operators will likely face immediate drop-offs in strike depth and increased exposure of ground pilot teams. However, rapid software iteration cycles among Ukrainian drone manufacturers may allow units to adapt frequencies faster than Russian jamming networks can reconfigure.

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