The Ukrainian-made ARES unmanned aerial systems were purchased as part of the "MEGAКАВА Donates to Wings" project, which WOG implemented jointly with the Dignitas Charitable Foundation. As a result, 18 combat units fighting on the ground were reinforced with 20 UAV systems and 2 additional aircraft for them.
This was made possible by the consolidation of business, Ukrainians, a charitable foundation, and bloggers.
In particular:
- The 14 UAV systems were purchased thanks to customers who enjoyed drinks in MEGA cups, and the company donated UAH 5 from its own profits for each of them.
- The 3 complexes and 2 additional aircraft were purchased for donations raised by the Dignitas Foundation, as well as by standers and communities that joined the project.
- The set includes from stand-up comedian and volunteer Vasyl Baidak and comedian Mark Kutsevalov, who presented a creative video to raise funds for ARES as part of the project.
"For the second year in a row, the "MEGAКАВА Donates to Wings" project has been uniting those who care. This year, more than 270 thousand unique customers have repeatedly visited WOG to taste MEGAKAVA, and 7 thousand WOG employees thanked each of them for their involvement. This project brought together volunteers, comedians, bloggers, football fans, manufacturers of unmanned systems, a charity fund and business," says Gennadiy Karlinsky, Marketing Director of the WOG filling station chain.
All UAV systems were handed over exclusively to certified pilots who had undergone appropriate training organized by the project partner, the Dignitas Foundation.
"This is a story about businesses, communities and hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians uniting to deliver Ukrainian reconnaissance UAVs ARES to the Ukrainian Defense Forces. It inspires us to continue systematic support of the domestic manufacturer, which can give Ukraine an advantage both in the UAV market and on the battlefield. Currently, the military lacks cheap reconnaissance wings with a range of 30-80 km to anticipate enemy actions and protect our positions.
We started out with 14 complexes in mind. Together we made 20. The military, and thus all of us, benefited from this synergy. We are grateful to everyone who contributed!" summarizes Lyuba Shipovych, director of the Dignitas Charitable Foundation.
"The need for UAVs is always extremely high, because they are the eyes that help to see and understand the situation on the battlefield, and there is always a shortage of them. There is a shortage both because of insufficient numbers and losses. The ARES system is an inexpensive solution for reconnaissance in addition to Mavic and expensive long-range aircraft. It is also relatively easy to learn and operate," says the military, who received the ARES UAV systems as part of the project.
They add: "In Donbas, due to the large number of EW and air defense systems, such boards as ARES are very much needed. This complex is more resistant to EW and has an RTL function. Other advantages include control channels, battery operation, starting with the engine on, and even in winds of up to 20 m/s, it has proven to be very confident.
The ARES reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle, developed in Ukraine for tactical-level military needs, has proven effective in photo reconnaissance of a large area from a long distance for further data decryption, in FPV correction and confirmation of damage, and in laying corridors for further stages of reconnaissance operations. It is capable of penetrating up to 50 km behind enemy lines at speeds of up to 100 km/h, operating at temperatures from -15 C to +35 C, and the deployment time is 15 minutes.
Project partners: MEGOGO streaming service, Ukrainian creative laboratory Gusev Art Lab.
Units that have received UAV systems under the project:
- 54th separate mechanized brigade named after Hetman Ivan Mazepa,
- 81 separate airmobile brigades, 31 separate mechanized brigades,
- 44 separate mechanized brigade,
- Special Operations Forces,
- 411th separate battalion of UAVs of the TRO Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine ("Hawks"),
- 132nd separate reconnaissance battalion of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,
- 77th separate airmobile brigade,
- 67th separate mechanized brigade,
- 109th separate brigade of the TRO,
- 94th Battalion of the TRO Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,
- 421 separate battalion of the BpAK,
- 46th separate air assault brigade and other combat units of the Defense Forces.