It time to switch to MilTech
Mykhailo Toporkov 🇺🇦

Mykhailo Toporkov 🇺🇦 @cookiemonsterdev

About: Hi there! I'm a Full-Stack engineer who is always ready for new challenges. Also I hate russians!

Location:
Ukraine
Joined:
Nov 12, 2023

It time to switch to MilTech

Publish Date: Mar 29
8 1

It has been three years since the full-scale war and ten years since the hybrid war started in my country. I do not expect understanding from you in this post; I just wanted to share some of my thoughts about the future. Here, you will probably find some unpleasant thoughts and opinions. You may disagree with me in the comments if you wish.


Ukrainian Revolution of Drones

Neutralizing (killing) enemies is an essential part of war. Finding the most efficient ways to neutralize them is also essential, and my country has found a way to fight against the invaders. Currently, approximately 80% of enemy losses are caused by FPV drones. I would gladly show you how our drones are literally tearing russians apart))), but I suppose that would be too much for this article... Anyway we will talk about FPV kamikaze drones more in the next section.

Drones have also transformed intelligence operations. Although some countries (with inadequate presidents at the moment) boast about drones costing MILLIONS AND MILLIONS of dollars e.g. MQ-9 for $33 million, they will be of little use in modern warfare due to existing air defenses and the electronic warfare capabilities of the enemy. The loss of even a single unit of this drone would be a disaster. On the other hand, you can buy a batch of 100 "SHARK UAV" units—and by 'unit,' I mean three UAVs along with a vehicle equipped with a command post. It is ideal for monitoring and adjusting fire on the battlefield. It is ideal for monitoring and adjusting fire on the battlefield, with a flight time of over two hours and a range of 60 km. However, perhaps the most important factor is that it is relatively cheap.
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Now, guess how a country without a naval fleet strikes fear into Russian warships? Yeah, the revolution of drones is not only happening in the sky. Sea drones have become a game-changer in naval warfare. Nowadays, you don’t need billion-dollar ships to destroy other billion-dollar ships —some "Sea Baby" or "MAGURA V5" are more than enough. At the beginning, the drone was just a simple (not really so simple) kamikaze drone that could deliver enough payload to destroy a missile cruiser. But now, it has already evolved into a platform capable of carrying missiles of different types or serving as a carrier for other FPV drones.
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Drones were a game-changer in this war; they significantly changed approaches to intelligence and strikes. However, nothing has transformed the battlefield more than FPV kamikaze drones.


FPV kamikaze drones

It all started with this video, in which soldiers from the now-legendary unit SIGNUM were recorded in history as the first to use an FPV drone to strike the enemy. The avalanche began: FPV bombers converted from domestic FPVs, 7/10-inch FPV kamikaze drones with RPG warheads, FPVs with thermobaric warheads, FPVs on optic cables, FPVs with guidance, and so many more. "Artillery is the god of war"—this phrase belongs to the murderer, tyrant, and dictator Joseph Stalin. But now, the role of "god" is shifting to FPVs. And that is not unexpected shift due to key advantages that FPV kamikaze drones have:

  • Precision Targeting: FPV kamikaze drones can deliver highly accurate strikes on specific targets, reducing collateral damage compared to the often less precise artillery shells.
  • Flexibility and Mobility: FPV drones can easily maneuver around obstacles and adjust their flight path in real-time, allowing them to target moving or hard-to-reach enemy positions, whereas artillery is limited to fixed firing positions and line-of-sight constraints.
  • Lower Cost: FPV kamikaze drones are generally much cheaper than traditional artillery systems, making them more cost-effective for striking high-value targets without the need for expensive munitions.
  • Speed and Stealth: Drones can approach targets faster and with more stealth compared to artillery, which often gives away its position after firing. FPV drones can also fly under radar coverage or use terrain for concealment.
  • Reduced Risk to Personnel: Since FPV kamikaze drones are remotely operated, there is minimal risk to personnel compared to artillery crews, who are often exposed to enemy fire while operating and reloading artillery guns.

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Right now, the full potential of FPV kamikaze drones is still uncertain, even though 80% of casualties among Russian invaders are due to drones. We still have a long way to go, and I'm sure that at some point, we will be able to defeat all the Russians. As Sir Sternenko says, "Кожному росіянину по дрону в пику." You can implement his mantra here)


Miltech require more innovations

Drones have already changed the game, but we’re just getting started. FPV kamikaze drones are deadly, but they still depend on human operators. The next step? Full autonomy. AI-driven drones that don’t need constant control, that can navigate through enemy jamming, and that can strike with precision even in the most chaotic battles. Imagine FPVs that can find their targets on their own, hunt in packs, and execute missions without a pilot glued to a screen. That’s where we need to go.

In wartime, development is moving at an absolutely brutal pace. What would take years in peacetime gets built, tested, and improved in weeks—sometimes even days. You’re not just coding; you’re solving real-world problems with immediate impact. Every new script, every optimization, every line of code can be the difference between a missed target and a direct hit. If you want to grow fast as a developer, there’s no better place to be right now.

But it’s not just about software—hardware innovations are just as crucial. More efficient batteries, better signal encryption, stronger materials, and modular payloads can make FPVs even deadlier. The future isn’t just in writing code; it’s in combining software, hardware, and battlefield strategy into one unstoppable force. We need more engineers, more hackers, more innovators—because this war is driven by tech, and those who push the limits will define the outcome.

For me, miltech is hands down the best option for growth as a developer right now. Nowhere else will you find this level of rapid innovation, immediate real-world impact, and the chance to work on cutting-edge tech that actually matters. If you want to level up fast, this is the place to be.


Conclusion

Considering all that was said above, I don’t really see a better option than miltech to satisfy my hatred towards Russians. For this reason, I have already started learning C. I will probably try to post some articles about C in the future, or I might join the military and get the opportunity to tear some russians apart using FPV. The future is unpredictable.

See you around folks, Death to russian invaders and Glory to Ukraine!!!!

Investment in FPV drones, against Russian invasion can be done here.

Comments 1 total

  • Brian Kirkpatrick
    Brian KirkpatrickMar 31, 2025

    Slava Ukraini!

    C is a good choice. Real-time data processing, crypto/compression, qualified flight software... You'll wind up "down there" sooner or later anyway.

    But your C will only be as good as your mental model of what the computer is doing. Learn about memory architectures, instruction sets, system calls and interrupts...

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