Developers of Ai-Petri electronic warfare system move away from hardware in favour of AI – media

The developers of the Ukrainian Ai-Petri data transmission and electronic warfare system are shifting away from hardware-based solutions in favor of artificial intelligence and software, according to a report by the Militarnyi specialized portal. The AI-driven approach aims to automate the coordination of counter-UAV systems, as human operators are unable to efficiently manage numerous disparate systems during massive attacks.

The AI system distributes targets among available assets, assigns frequency channels for electronic warfare operations, and redistributes resources in real time based on the status of targets. While situational awareness systems display the battlefield situation for commanders, combat management systems are responsible for directly making decisions and issuing commands to assets.

The AI-centric approach is still in experimental mode in Kyiv, Odesa, and Zaporizhia, with limited coverage in Dnipro. This new strategy emphasizes building a network where each unit becomes an operational component of a unified system, rather than purchasing numerous individual units. The hardware of the Ai-Petri system creates a physical effect, while the software determines the timing, location, targets, and coordination with other assets.

Ukrainian politician and European Solidarity party leader Petro Poroshenko has invested over UAH 200 million in Ai-Petri SV systems since the autumn of 2023, with successful testing and deployment by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In March 2025, Poroshenko signed a contract with the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, and on June 29 of the same year, he announced cooperation with the Ukrainian Ground Forces command for the supply of these systems to the military.

The Ai-Petri counter-surveillance system was unveiled for the first time on September 9, 2026, at the MSPO 2026 security and defense technology exhibition in Kielce, Poland.