In the biting cold of winter in northeastern Ukraine, where temperatures are sometimes only around one digit, UAV units of the Ukrainian army are trying every way to maintain combat capability.
One of the seemingly very ordinary but significantly effective solutions is heating pads.
US media reported that Ukrainian soldiers wrapped UAV batteries (unmanned aerial vehicles) with heating pads right before takeoff, to prevent batteries from decaying due to low temperatures.
A commander of a Ukrainian UAV unit said that in normal conditions, batteries can generate heat during flight when supplying electricity to the system. However, in winter, cold weather causes battery voltage to drop rapidly, leading to shortening flight range and reducing combat effectiveness.
The unit of this commander is operating fixed-wing bombing UAVs in the Kharkiv area. He said that disposable heating pads are wrapped directly around the battery and installed on the UAV right before the launch. The weight gain is less than 100g, almost not affecting the performance of the UAV weighing about 45kg.
In fact, this approach is not entirely new. According to the commander, last year, when the unit operated in a warmer area, the greater challenge came from the humidity in the air, instead of low temperatures. However, as winter becomes harsher, supplementing heat sources for batteries is becoming a mandatory requirement.
Not only is it cold, hot weather also poses other risks. UAV batteries tend to heat up when operating, especially during takeoff or acceleration phases, when the engine consumes a lot of electricity. If the temperature exceeds the permissible limit, the battery may be damaged, directly affecting the safety and efficiency of the task.
The use of heating pads clearly reflects how Ukrainian soldiers are constantly looking for simple, cheap solutions to adapt to battlefield conditions. With a price of only about 30-40 USD, these items that were originally used for daily life have become "savings" for high-tech systems.
The same approach is also applied in many other units. Yuriy, a lieutenant colonel of an electronic warfare unit of the Ukrainian National Guard in Kharkiv, said that his unit uses small heating boxes - which are often used to store food - to keep UAV batteries and walkie-talkie batteries warm. He described this as a "simple but effective" measure.
These efforts are taking place in the context of Ukraine experiencing its coldest winter in more than a decade, according to UN assessments.
At the same time, Russia is increasing attacks with missiles and UAVs targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure, causing widespread power outages, causing both the military and civilians to face a shortage of heating, electricity and water.
