Ukraine needs secure borders. Therefore the border section along the border with Russia and Belarus will be extended to two kilometres and mined. According to Ukrainian State Border Service, this change is provided for by law.
In addition to these fixed borders, however, areas must be temporarily secured in the course of liberating occupied territories. This needs to be done with few personnel, as the people are needed for the fight for freedom against Russian armed forces. Germany is providing support by supplying modern, automated systems.
Rheinmetall is cooperating in the project with Estonian company DefSecIntel, whose SurveilSPIRE reconnaissance systems include mobile surveillance towers, autopiloted mini-drones and transport vehicles.
Made by Estonia’s DefSecIntel, the SurveilSPIRE surveillance towers can be loaded onto trailers and quickly transported to their area of operation. Assembly requires three personnel; operation is fully automated. The system includes wireless links (4G and Starlink) for video transmission to a mobile command post. Solar panels enable sustained operation without power cables or a fuel source. The system relies on autopiloted reconnaissance drones that conduct patrols and mission-specific flights. This enables inspection of detected threats and lets the operator initiate necessary countermeasures.
Delivery of SurveilSPIRE to Ukraine has already commenced.
Dorothee Frank, Head of editorial team