Ukrainian drones have been equipped with navigation capabilities similar to those of the Tomahawk system
European defense contractor Delian Alliance Industries has delivered its new Osiris navigation module for testing in combat conditions. The system is positioned as the European counterpart to the American DSMAC optical navigation system, which is used for the high-precision operation of Tomahawk cruise missiles. The new technology is planned to be tested on Ukrainian drones.
The main problem with standard drones on the front lines is their reliance on civilian or military GPS satellite navigation channels, which the enemy massively jams or spoofs using electronic warfare (EW) systems. The Osiris module completely eliminates this vulnerability thanks to the principle of Digital Scene Matching Area Correlation (DSMAC).
The system operates on the principle of optical scanning: detailed satellite or aerial images of the route are preloaded into the drone’s memory. During flight, the onboard camera continuously captures the ground surface, and the Osiris module’s processor compares the received image with a reference digital map in real time. By identifying matches in terrain, buildings, roads, or forest belts, the drone clearly determines its coordinates without any connection to the outside world.
As Mark Melhorn, a representative of Delian Alliance Industries, reported on his social media, before sending the technology to Ukraine, the developers conducted 15 rigorous test flights in European airspace. After achieving excellent results, the company decided to test the module in the real combat conditions of the Ukrainian front.
Results of the Osiris module testing in Ukraine:
- Total flight distance: Ukrainian drones equipped with the module have already successfully flown approximately 3,000 km over the combat zone and frontline areas;
- Compatibility: The latest device was tested in tandem with Ukrainian “middlestrike” (medium-range) strike drones;
- Operational altitudes: Full operational capability and terrain scanning were confirmed across a wide altitude range—from a minimum of 70 m (for covert penetration of air defense systems) to 2,000 m;
- Strike accuracy: Dozens of test missions have shown that even under conditions of artificially blocked satellite signals, the average positioning error was less than 20 m, which is a phenomenal result for optical systems and fully comparable to military-grade GPS.
The management of Delian Alliance Industries has decided to establish a subsidiary in Ukraine. It will be responsible for establishing cooperation with local partners to launch joint production of navigation systems.
As a reminder, the Ministry of Defense will recover 617 million hryvnias through the courts for terminated contracts.
Recently, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine certified and approved for use in the Armed Forces of Ukraine three fiber-optic FPV systems manufactured by enterprises of JSC “Ukrainian Defense Industry.”
Prior to this, the Ministry of Defense had certified and approved the domestic unmanned aerial system “Volynaka” for use by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Earlier, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine approved the Shablya MK19(M) remotely controlled combat module for use by the troops. It is equipped with an MK19 40mm automatic grenade launcher.
