Latest news with #Prevail
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The West's drone tech risks becoming irrelevant if it's not tested daily on the Ukrainian battlefield, defense exec says
A Ukrainian company teamed with a UK contractor to bring its battle-tested drone to the UK market. Ukraine has become ground zero for developing cutting-edge drones. UK-Ukraine tech-sharing aims to enhance military capabilities and retain an edge. The dizzying pace of drone development is now part and parcel of the war in Ukraine, where the fastest-moving companies are battle-testing their products in real-world combat. Increasingly, Western militaries understand that their drone tech will be functionally obsolete unless the technology they import or develop is field-tested in conflicts like Ukraine. "If your system is not in day-to-day use on the frontline of Ukraine, it becomes very quickly out of date," Justin Hedges, a former Royal Marine and cofounder of military intelligence company Prevail, told Business Insider. Prevail has partnered with Ukrainian drone company Skyeton to bring Raybird, a small surveillance and targeting drone, to production in the UK. It's being done with a shrewd eye on the British Army's plans to replace its troubled Watchkeeper drone program with an uncrewed surveillance and targeting capability more suited to the scenarios playing out in Ukraine. More broadly, a recent data and drone tech-sharing agreement made between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the UK's Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that Ukrainian insight is to be "plugged into UK production lines." It chimes with a drive across the West to see the Ukrainian battlefield as a live laboratory — out of necessity for the country's defense, but increasingly, as a crucial way for smaller companies to develop systems and services that have a technological edge. The UK armed forces minister Luke Pollard underscored the point at a drone conference in Latvia in late May, saying, "If you are a drone company and you do not have your kit on the frontline in Ukraine, you might as well give up." Raybird, Skyeton's drone, has a combined 350,000 hours of flight time on Ukraine's front line, in use "from the Black Sea to Kharkiv," Skyeton's founder Alex Stepura told BI. Per Stepura, Raybird can fly more than 28 continuous hours and uses an array of sensors — including optical, electromagnetic, and various radar capabilities — to collect data from "far behind" the front line, sometimes from more than 125 miles away. Many of its sensors can be swapped out in a minute, enabling forces to react quickly. Ukraine's Ministry of Defence has hailed the drone as being capable of tasks normally reserved for much larger models. Its size — just 25kg, or 55 pounds — gives an added advantage: it's "relatively stealthy," Hedges said. Small, advanced drones are crucial to spotting enemy movements and high-value targets like vehicles and air defenses. In response, Russia has deployed an ever-evolving array of electronic warfare tactics that aim to scramble signals, spoof GPS positions, or overwhelm radio frequencies. Hedges said that Skyeton's engineers are continually adapting to these tactics. "The proof is in the data," he added, saying that Ukrainian forces are getting more than 80 missions out of each drone before they're lost. In contrast to the cumbersome procurement processes of major companies, the Ukrainian drone industry is peppered with small, fast-moving producers who iterate quickly and often interact directly with forces on the ground. Milrem Robotics, an Estonian company, is creating autonomous ground robots that are being regularly battle-tested in Ukraine. Its CEO, Kuldar Väärsi, told BI that the conditions in Ukraine are "totally different" to those found in peacetime exercises. Milrem's THeMIS robot had been designed to be simple to operate, but after a stint in Ukraine, the company's engineers realized they needed it to be even simpler, Väärsi said. Kit might be designed for use by soldiers trained on how to use it, he added, but in actual war, "anybody who needs that equipment will use it." Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
02-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
The West's drone tech risks becoming irrelevant if it's not tested daily on the Ukrainian battlefield, defense exec says
The dizzying pace of drone development is now part and parcel of the war in Ukraine, where the fastest-moving companies are battle-testing their products in real-world combat. Increasingly, Western militaries understand that their drone tech will be functionally obsolete unless the technology they import or develop is field-tested in conflicts like Ukraine. "If your system is not in day-to-day use on the frontline of Ukraine, it becomes very quickly out of date," Justin Hedges, a former Royal Marine and cofounder of military intelligence company Prevail, told Business Insider. Prevail has partnered with Ukrainian drone company Skyeton to bring Raybird, a small surveillance and targeting drone, to production in the UK. It's being done with a shrewd eye on the British Army's plans to replace its troubled Watchkeeper drone program with an uncrewed surveillance and targeting capability more suited to the scenarios playing out in Ukraine. More broadly, a recent data and drone tech-sharing agreement made between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the UK's Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that Ukrainian insight is to be "plugged into UK production lines." It chimes with a drive across the West to see the Ukrainian battlefield as a live laboratory — out of necessity for the country's defense, but increasingly, as a crucial way for smaller companies to develop systems and services that have a technological edge. The UK armed forces minister Luke Pollard underscored the point at a drone conference in Latvia in late May, saying, "If you are a drone company and you do not have your kit on the frontline in Ukraine, you might as well give up." Raybird, Skyeton's drone, has a combined 350,000 hours of flight time on Ukraine's front line, in use "from the Black Sea to Kharkiv," Skyeton's founder Alex Stepura told BI. Per Stepura, Raybird can fly more than 28 continuous hours and uses an array of sensors — including optical, electromagnetic, and various radar capabilities — to collect data from "far behind" the front line, sometimes from more than 125 miles away. Many of its sensors can be swapped out in a minute, enabling forces to react quickly. Ukraine's Ministry of Defence has hailed the drone as being capable of tasks normally reserved for much larger models. Its size — just 25kg, or 55 pounds — gives an added advantage: it's "relatively stealthy," Hedges said. Small, advanced drones are crucial to spotting enemy movements and high-value targets like vehicles and air defenses. In response, Russia has deployed an ever-evolving array of electronic warfare tactics that aim to scramble signals, spoof GPS positions, or overwhelm radio frequencies. Hedges said that Skyeton's engineers are continually adapting to these tactics. "The proof is in the data," he added, saying that Ukrainian forces are getting more than 80 missions out of each drone before they're lost. In contrast to the cumbersome procurement processes of major companies, the Ukrainian drone industry is peppered with small, fast-moving producers who iterate quickly and often interact directly with forces on the ground. Milrem Robotics, an Estonian company, is creating autonomous ground robots that are being regularly battle-tested in Ukraine. Its CEO, Kuldar Väärsi, told BI that the conditions in Ukraine are "totally different" to those found in peacetime exercises. Milrem's THeMIS robot had been designed to be simple to operate, but after a stint in Ukraine, the company's engineers realized they needed it to be even simpler, Väärsi said. Kit might be designed for use by soldiers trained on how to use it, he added, but in actual war, "anybody who needs that equipment will use it."
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Opinion - As US aid evaporates in Ukraine, civilian heroes are stepping up
Last month, Chris Garrett was killed while clearing landmines in eastern Ukraine. A British bomb disposal expert turned humanitarian, Garrett founded Prevail Together, a demining organization operating in the war-torn country. Alongside him died Nick Parsons, a 28-year-old former Australian Special Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal operator. I had the privilege of working with both men as part of a four-man bomb disposal unit just days before their deaths. Their loss illustrates a painful truth: As official U.S. government aid to Ukraine dries up, private citizens from America and around the world are stepping into the breach — sometimes at the ultimate cost. The roughly $130 billion of American aid has been essential in maintaining Ukraine's struggle for survival. But that aid, for the moment at least, will not be continued with any new assistance packages from the U.S. government. This is why the work of civilian organizations has become even more critical. During my three-week humanitarian trip to the Kyiv, Kharkiv and Donbas regions, I witnessed firsthand what dedication to a dangerous cause looks like. Garrett and Parsons would drive past army checkpoints into areas littered with mines, burning fields and freshly dug trenches in anticipation of fighting to come. Between clearing lanes on minefields and warily eyeing the sky for lethal drones, they maintained an almost surreal humor and calm. At one point on the road south from Izium, Garrett abruptly halted our truck after spotting a red fox standing in a field. 'Watch out for mines, buddy,' he muttered before driving off. Like navigating a minefield himself, he was always alert, scanning for anything out of place. Not afraid to confront danger. There's a famous George Orwell quote that states, 'People sleep soundly in their beds at night because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.' Garrett was one of those rough men, and while he no longer did violence himself, his dangerous work allowed Ukrainians to sleep more soundly. In the 'most mined country on earth,' he made countless acres safer for civilians and soldiers alike. Garrett and Parsons weren't alone. Prevail's teams operate across Ukraine, eliminating threats from landmines, unexploded ordnance and improvised explosive devices. Their medical teams deliver critical healthcare, transporting wounded civilians, police officers and military personnel to hospitals. Another group, Task Force Antal, consisting of retired military combat veterans, has trained over 20,000 Ukrainian civilians in emergency response, with a waiting list of 50,000 more. Prevail Together and Taskforce Antal are entirely volunteer organizations — warriors turned humanitarians. These organizations embody something profound about the global relationship with Ukraine: it transcends government policy. While official U.S. aid may pause, the spirit of supporting those fighting for freedom continues through citizens from America and around the world willing to donate time, money and sometimes their lives. They deserve and need our continued support. Beyond the humanitarian mission, there are strategic reasons we can't afford to abandon Ukraine. Russia is not America's friend; it is a hostile dictatorship, and Ukraine is fighting a courageous war of self-defense. History has taught us to stop predators like Putin before they launch even larger wars. What message would Putin's success send to China regarding Taiwan, or to North Korea and Iran? The Western world appeased Hitler, leading to World War II. We won't avoid World War III by appeasing Putin. Despite the tragic loss of its founder, Prevail continues its mission in Ukraine. But it and other civilian groups like it need support — our support — to replace what the U.S. government has withdrawn. When I think of Chris Garrett and Nick Parsons, I remember men who risked everything for people they had never meet. Their sacrifice demands we ask ourselves: If they were willing to give their lives, what are we willing to give? Ukraine deserves peace, but not at the cost of sovereignty or territory. They deserve the just peace that brave defenders like Garrett and Parsons died trying to deliver. As Americans, we may disagree about government policy, but we can still uphold our finest traditions by supporting the humanitarian heroes working on the ground. Owen Pataki, who served in the 10th Mountain Division in Afghanistan, is an author and has recently returned from Ukraine's frontline regions as a humanitarian volunteer. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
29-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
As US aid evaporates in Ukraine, civilian heroes are stepping up
Last month, Chris Garrett was killed while clearing landmines in eastern Ukraine. A British bomb disposal expert turned humanitarian, Garrett founded Prevail Together, a demining organization operating in the war-torn country. Alongside him died Nick Parsons, a 28-year-old former Australian Special Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal operator. I had the privilege of working with both men as part of a four-man bomb disposal unit just days before their deaths. Their loss illustrates a painful truth: As official U.S. government aid to Ukraine dries up, private citizens from America and around the world are stepping into the breach — sometimes at the ultimate cost. The roughly $130 billion of American aid has been essential in maintaining Ukraine's struggle for survival. But that aid, for the moment at least, will not be continued with any new assistance packages from the U.S. government. This is why the work of civilian organizations has become even more critical. During my three-week humanitarian trip to the Kyiv, Kharkiv and Donbas regions, I witnessed firsthand what dedication to a dangerous cause looks like. Garrett and Parsons would drive past army checkpoints into areas littered with mines, burning fields and freshly dug trenches in anticipation of fighting to come. Between clearing lanes on minefields and warily eyeing the sky for lethal drones, they maintained an almost surreal humor and calm. At one point on the road south from Izium, Garrett abruptly halted our truck after spotting a red fox standing in a field. 'Watch out for mines, buddy,' he muttered before driving off. Like navigating a minefield himself, he was always alert, scanning for anything out of place. Not afraid to confront danger. There's a famous George Orwell quote that states, 'People sleep soundly in their beds at night because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.' Garrett was one of those rough men, and while he no longer did violence himself, his dangerous work allowed Ukrainians to sleep more soundly. In the 'most mined country on earth,' he made countless acres safer for civilians and soldiers alike. Garrett and Parsons weren't alone. Prevail's teams operate across Ukraine, eliminating threats from landmines, unexploded ordnance and improvised explosive devices. Their medical teams deliver critical healthcare, transporting wounded civilians, police officers and military personnel to hospitals. Another group, Task Force Antal, consisting of retired military combat veterans, has trained over 20,000 Ukrainian civilians in emergency response, with a waiting list of 50,000 more. Prevail Together and Taskforce Antal are entirely volunteer organizations — warriors turned humanitarians. These organizations embody something profound about the global relationship with Ukraine: it transcends government policy. While official U.S. aid may pause, the spirit of supporting those fighting for freedom continues through citizens from America and around the world willing to donate time, money and sometimes their lives. They deserve and need our continued support. Beyond the humanitarian mission, there are strategic reasons we can't afford to abandon Ukraine. Russia is not America's friend; it is a hostile dictatorship, and Ukraine is fighting a courageous war of self-defense. History has taught us to stop predators like Putin before they launch even larger wars. What message would Putin's success send to China regarding Taiwan, or to North Korea and Iran? The Western world appeased Hitler, leading to World War II. We won't avoid World War III by appeasing Putin. Despite the tragic loss of its founder, Prevail continues its mission in Ukraine. But it and other civilian groups like it need support — our support — to replace what the U.S. government has withdrawn. When I think of Chris Garrett and Nick Parsons, I remember men who risked everything for people they had never meet. Their sacrifice demands we ask ourselves: If they were willing to give their lives, what are we willing to give? Ukraine deserves peace, but not at the cost of sovereignty or territory. They deserve the just peace that brave defenders like Garrett and Parsons died trying to deliver. As Americans, we may disagree about government policy, but we can still uphold our finest traditions by supporting the humanitarian heroes working on the ground. Owen Pataki, who served in the 10th Mountain Division in Afghanistan, is an author and has recently returned from Ukraine's frontline regions as a humanitarian volunteer.
7NEWS
12-05-2025
- Politics
- 7NEWS
Australian bomb disposal volunteer killed while working with charity that clears landmines in Ukraine
An Australian man has been killed while volunteering to clear landmines in war-torn Ukraine. Nick Parsons died last week after suffering significant injuries near the city of Izyum in the country's east. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Australian Nick Parsons killed in Ukraine. Exactly what happened is still under investigation, but he was working with UK-based charity Prevail Together as a bomb disposal expert at the time. Parsons was among three people critically injured, with Prevail's British co-founder, Chris Garrett, also dying from his injuries. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese offered his 'deepest condolences and sympathies' to the Australian's family. 'I can confirm he wasn't a participant in the conflict. He was volunteering with a humanitarian organisation and so I do want to remind Australians that Ukraine is a do-not-travel zone,' Albanese said. 'The situation is extremely dangerous and we continue to strongly advise all Australians not to travel to Ukraine under any circumstances.' Ukraine's ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko said Parsons had been taking part in a 'very important' demining mission. 'We are very thankful to him and for his courageous work in Ukraine,' Myroshnychenko told SBS. 'Demining is one of those areas where your life is 50/50, you can live or you can die, and it's one of those sharp razors that you walk on, and it's very dangerous.' Prevail board member Shaun Pinner said 'our thoughts and prayers are with the families affected'. A statement on Prevail's website said it is still gathering information on the incident and working with police and military to 'uncover the details'. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it is providing support to the family of an Australian killed in Ukraine. 'We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time,' it said. 'Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment.' 'We await a ceasefire' It comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepares to meet Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Turkey this week. 'We await a ceasefire — this proposal is on the table,' Zelenskyy wrote on X. 'A full and unconditional ceasefire, one that lasts long enough to provide a necessary foundation for diplomacy, could bring peace significantly closer. 'Ukraine has long proposed this, our partners are proposing it, and the whole world is calling for it. 'We await a clear response from Russia. The killings must stop.' Major European powers have pushed the Russian leader to agree to 30-day ceasefire or face new sanctions. 'President Putin of Russia doesn't want to have a Cease Fire Agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH. Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY,' US president Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social. 'At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible, and if it is not, European leaders, and the US, will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly!' Putin sent Russia's armed forces into Ukraine in February 2022, triggering a conflict that has led to significant casualties.
