The Ukrainian team 1ms has unveiled new models of portable electric telescopic masts called "Smart mast" designed for communication between reconnaissance drones and FPV drones on the front lines. Two prototypes, standing 4 and 8 meters high, were showcased at the Brave1 Defense Tech Valley 2025 exhibition.
The portable masts were developed considering the needs of the military, which indicated that deploying older communication devices takes about 40 minutes, a considerable challenge amid constant shelling.
The development of the new device took the team approximately 18 months. Thanks to a well-thought-out design of the electric drive, telescopic guides, and complex support legs, the deployment time for the mast ranges from one to two minutes, depending on the model.
In designing the "Smart mast", the focus was on mobility, allowing a single soldier to carry the mast on their shoulder and deploy the communication equipment independently. The 4-meter mast weighs 13 kg, while the 6-meter version weighs 19 kg. The company is also finalizing the design of a 12-meter mast with a weight of 24 kg.
"These masts are used for various tasks. They can elevate repeaters for signal transmission between the operator and the drone. They can also raise antennas for controlling FPV drones or interceptor drones. In civilian applications, the masts can be equipped with lighting systems or surveillance cameras," explains the system developer, Volodymyr.
To ensure communication, the masts are equipped with a tilting mechanism that directs the antenna toward the drone. Over time, the mechanism will be upgraded with automatic tracking for self-correcting the antenna direction.
"We have already received a request to install similar systems on ground robotic complexes, to deploy them on the front line for surveillance in hot spots. They can also be mounted on pickups or other vehicles," emphasizes Volodymyr.
The manufacturing process primarily utilizes Ukrainian components. Only a few types of bearings and metal products are sourced from abroad. Most elements are machined, cut, or printed in-house on their own equipment.
Currently, the masts have already undergone testing on the front lines. They were utilized by one of the UAV control centers and a unit in Kharkiv region. Based on the experience of using these masts, they are being refined before the launch of serial production planned for the second half of autumn.
Initially, the production capacity of the facility will amount to 20 8-meter masts per month. However, plans are already in place to increase the output to 50 units per month. The cost of one unit will be approximately 160,000 UAH.
The team applied for the Brave1 grant and received expert support for the modernization and codification of their product before the start of serial production.