Ukrainian reconnaissance drone MARA is capable of operating at low altitudes and cannot be jammed by electronic warfare
The MARA (Modular Advanced Robotic Aircraft) is a Ukrainian-made reconnaissance system consisting of fixed and rotary drones and antennae for flight control. It weighs about 20 kilograms and can fly 45 kilometers deep into the front and observe enemy positions.
MARA is capable of operating at low altitudes and in gusty winds of 20 m/s. Two drones with a control station and antenna can be placed in one backpack.
The drone first appeared on the frontline in 2014 and has been constantly improving since then. UAV data is used for both surveillance and artillery adjustment. The drone is equipped with two cameras that take photos and videos simultaneously.
The MARA is very small in size, and in order to shoot it down, an active radar must be activated. When the occupiers turn on active radar, they immediately become visible. It’s like turning on a super-powerful spotlight at night. But otherwise, they cannot capture the target. The problem for the enemy is that the target must capture the missile head, and this is much more difficult. That’s why we have no confirmation of any damage to the drones,” says the soldier.
“Due to the small size of the drone, the missile cannot capture it as a target. We have a video of three missiles flying at the UAV at once, but they just flew past the drone. The spectrum of MARA radiation and radiation reflections is too small for the missile head to capture it,” the soldier added.
The MARA UAV can fly autonomously. The enemy’s powerful electronic warfare can suppress it completely and the operator will lose contact with it, but the drone will still fly its programmed mission, collect data and return autonomously. MARA’s aerodynamics allow it to return to the operator with very little deflection.
