Ministry of Defense of Ukraine contributed changes to four key orders that regulate the use of drones, repealing a number of regulations that have lost relevance during the wartime period. Innovations provide for the simplification of procedures related to flights and maintenance of drones. From now on, during the period of martial law and for three months after its termination, part of the provisions of these documents shall not be applied.
Innovations provide for the simplification of procedures related to flights and maintenance of drones. In particular, single-use UAVs of all types and classes, as well as first-class UAVs of the “micro” (tactical drones weighing up to 2 kg, such as the Mavic 3) and “mini” (tactical battlefield drones weighing up to 15 kg, such as the DJI Matrice 300) categories will not be subject to the rules of state aviation flights. In addition, the majority of such drones are no longer subject to mandatory registration in the state aircraft register.
According to the updated rules, the leaders of BpAK I class no longer need to be sent to a flight medical examination to determine fitness to fly. Management permission is granted by order of the unit commander. Also, the rules regarding medical support of state aviation flights do not apply to BpAK I class crews.
“Frontline conditions are changing rapidly, and we are working to ensure that the military has more freedom in the use of modern technologies. Regulation should not unnecessarily burden them, create bureaucratic obstacles”, – explained Deputy Minister of Defense Valery Churkin.
The update was developed by the Change Support Office of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine in cooperation with the Main Directorate of State Aviation of the Ukrainian Military Academy and the Command of the Forces of Unmanned Systems of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
“The norms were brought into line with the realities of modern warfare. The orders adopted before a full-scale invasion contained rules that could not be fulfilled due to the high intensity of hostilities, the large number of different types of anti-aircraft missiles, and the rapid change in the technologies of their use. Some of them were not just unrealistic, but also dangerous. For example, there was a requirement to place the contact data of operators on drones.”, – noted Yuliya Marushevska, head of the Office of Changes of the IOU.
