Олександр КузьменкоWar
10 July 2026, 11:40
2026-07-10
“The West wants to see an iPhone with a victory button.” Co-founder of General Chereshnya talks about robot warfare and an alternative to fiber optics
Ukrainian drone manufacturer General Chereshnya is developing a new technological solution designed to increase the flight range of UAVs compared to modern fiber-optic counterparts. According to the developers, it will improve the quality of video transmission, simplify control of the devices, and reduce the dependence of operators on drones on reels, which should increase their safety on the front line.
Ukrainian drone manufacturer General Chereshnya is developing a new technological solution designed to increase the flight range of UAVs compared to modern fiber-optic counterparts. According to the developers, it will improve the quality of video transmission, simplify control of the devices, and reduce the dependence of operators on drones on reels, which should increase their safety on the front line.
This was stated by the company’s co-founder Yaroslav Hryshyn in an interview with RBC-Ukraine. He noted that the presentation of the new technology will take place in the near future.
According to Grishin, the new development is designed to gradually replace fiber-optic drones in certain use scenarios. Although cable UAVs are completely resistant to electronic warfare, they have limitations in terms of flight range and maneuverability.
«We are preparing very interesting solutions so that we have a slightly different technology that works and flies even further than these fiber-optic drones, is easier to control and has better video,» he explained, adding that thanks to this, pilots will be able to use less fiber and work more safely.
Commenting on the use of the term «game changer» by Western analysts, the entrepreneur urged not to overestimate the role of technical means alone.
«In the West, they really want to see a game changer, so that, like in the iPhone, you can press a button and achieve certain goals. But it won’t work like that,» explained Yaroslav Hryshyn, adding that the key factor in the effectiveness of the technology remains the training and professionalism of the military.
At the same time, he stated that the integration of artificial intelligence and robotics is changing the nature of combat operations. Evaluating the development of the industry for the next two years, the company representative predicted a significant change in the line of contact by 2028.
According to Hryshyn, in the future, a conditional «wall» of drones and robots will form on the front, and the zone of defeat will expand to 50 km. It is expected that most drones will have higher autonomy, increased load capacity and will operate in the format of autonomous swarms using AI systems for detection, guidance and capture of targets.
The company’s co-founder also noted that drones have taken their niche on the battlefield, but their use should be systematic. In particular, drones that intercept air targets are an important component of the active protection of civilian infrastructure. According to Yaroslav Hryshyn, radio interception data indicate that the Russian military is being tasked with striking civilian objects, gas stations, and cars in Zaporizhia, so countering air threats directly affects the safety of the population.
Previously, the founder of defense companies The Fourth Law and Odd Systems, Yaroslav Azhnyuk, also compared the current stage of UAV development to the era of push-button phones. According to him, the current drone is «not yet an iPhone, but rather a Nokia 3310,» because most devices remain relatively simple and disposable devices for individual tasks, while the industry is only moving towards universal autonomous systems with regular software updates.
«General Chereshnya» showed off a new reconnaissance drone, Sweetheart. It is resistant to electronic warfare and six times cheaper than its counterparts
