Вікторія Горбік War 26 February 2025, 09:11

Ukrainian specialists have developed a communication system resistant to active electronic warfare. How Teletactica works with a unique approach to each user

Two experienced Ukrainian specialists began researching solutions for reliable communication in conditions of high threats and active electronic warfare even before the start of a full-scale invasion, when it was not mainstream. Before starting to develop specific solutions, Yevhen Zhebko, with experience in building and managing hardware startups, and Anton Getman, an engineer with his own entrepreneurial experience, collected the pains and problems of communication and data transmission directly from the military. The developers told dev.ua how the Teletactica company came into being, what it took to start development, what makes its products impressive now, as well as about Chinese components and obtaining government orders.

Starting with the sore

Zhebko Yevhen is a management manager by education. He began his journey in hardware startups in 2010. The first of his projects was the Mammoth eBike electric bicycles, which went from zero to one in three years and went on sale on the Ukrainian and international markets (USA). Based on this experience, in 2019, with a new team, the project of the next-generation hearing aids OoshEars appeared, and in 2021, the project of the financial literacy web service PipelinerOnline began, which later grew into a full-fledged startup.

Teletactica team: from left to right COO Denis Sosnin, CEO Yevhen Zhebko, CTO Anton Getman (Photo from the personal archive of the founders)

An engineer by education, Anton Getman built his own business and organized teams around comprehensive R&D. He and Yevhen met during their student years, but fully combined their expertise only after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Back in 2021, experts began investigating communication problems in military settings when acquaintances from the army shared their pain points.

«For many, the inevitable was felt, so it was quite understandable to want to prepare,» says Yevhen.

After the full-scale invasion began, none of them had any questions about whether it was worth continuing to do this. Since the problem had already been investigated to a certain extent, and there were more requests for improving various tools around it than two specialists could work with, the developers gradually began to unite various specialists with specialized expertise around this task — to make a communication resistant to electronic warfare.

The inventors began taking the first steps in March 2022. But in an initiative that was initially done as a volunteer one, the developers gradually structured the team, built a system, and in 2023 registered a defense industry company, Teletactica, to increase the state’s defense capabilities.

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Who was at the source and driving the project?

The project started with literally two people — Anton and Yevhen. Then the team gradually grew, with both old friends and new people joining.

«The first year after the start of the full-scale invasion, the only way to start development in the defense industry was exclusively through people in whom there was 100% trust,» the co-founders recall.

Now the company has over 50 specialists, a full-fledged business with a certain degree of corporate culture. The developers have gained experience in performing the tasks set even in conditions of constant change.

The greatest value, as well as the shortage of specialists at Teletactica, is seen among embedded developers. Currently, there is no need for additional specialists, but periodically the company has open vacancies, information about which is published on the corporate page on Linkedin and work.ua.

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Through radio interference

First of all, the inventors set themselves the task of ensuring stable information transmission under the active influence of radio interference for as long as possible. After carefully studying the problem, they did not limit themselves to developing only modems (signal receivers and transmitters), but also offered additional services.

It works like this: First, the team researches the platform (media), then the integration process begins. As a result, all the data and conclusions are formalized into a technical solution.

In addition to modems, Teletactica includes both antenna equipment, which in most cases is developed by the team itself for a specific task, and additional signal amplification or filtering elements that take into account the tactics of use (distances, maneuvers, etc.), the speed of deployment of the complex (namely, types of antennas, their configuration, and other elements of the ground station).

But basically these are two products:

digital video transmission and telemetry system,
a universal complex of two modems that ensures effective transmission of images and other technical information over long distances in conditions of active radio interference.

«As a result of working together with the end user, we each time receive a system that provides stable results even in the harshest conditions,» emphasizes Yevhen.

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Stumbling blocks

For any hardware project, the issue of the component base also often arises, and it is a separate art (although more experience) to choose the right combinations that will not cause issues with further scaling. In the current conditions in Ukraine, developers also face certain political decisions — for example, sanctions and restrictions.

«We have long understood that sooner or later China would begin restrictions,» say the co-founders.

That is why, in parallel with preparing for NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act) compliance in the US, TELETACTICA completely abandoned the use of both components made in China and ordering services (production and assembly of printed circuit boards). The co-founders believe that in the case of China, these are also risks associated with the inability to protect critical IP (intellectual property).

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Military experience

Manufacturers have been in close contact with the military since the first days of development, receiving their wishes regarding the operation of the modules and feedback on the operation of the system.

Today, more than 100 operators and 30 teams use antenna complexes. And, according to Yevhen, this number is gradually increasing.

In addition, developers integrate their communication systems into devices from other manufacturers. Communication, especially over long distances, is a significantly more complex product and, accordingly, has a longer implementation path than antenna complexes. Yevhen also noted that such an approach requires testing, comparisons and, ultimately, calculating ROI (Return on investment) for the end user.

«Because any solution must, on the one hand, be adapted to achieve its goals, and on the other hand, be economically justified, especially when you are faced with the public procurement mechanism,» he adds.

As Yevhen explains, communication systems are a component, not a final product, so for purchases by the Armed Forces, they almost always undergo separate codification with a specific tool. And the company does this at the request of the manufacturer.

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About money

The company underwent acceleration with the MITS Capital fund, confirmed its value at the PMF (Product market fit) level, received initial investments and is now in the stage of active scaling of its products.

In total, over $550,000 has been invested in the company in the form of investments, grants, and loans. Last year, the company completed its first government order. It also presented its developments at a separate event at the IT Arena.

About plans

Since the end of 2024, the company and its products have been in the stage of active scaling — some products have already been integrated into the public procurement structure, some are still in the implementation stage. According to the co-founders, the manufacturers are cooperating with all key stakeholders in the Ukrainian market to quickly attract investments.

Separately, as Yevhen reported, Teletactica is exploring the prospects for developing their technologies in the dual-use direction. In particular, mainly in industrial IoT, information transmission between different types of sensors in conditions of radio interference and over long distances.

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