During the IRON DEMO 2025 event, young teams presented cutting-edge technological solutions in the fields of electronic warfare and rocket technology. The most successful projects received financial backing for further development.
The first prize was awarded to the smart EW system "Puhach," capable of detecting and jamming enemy FPV drones. This system is based on software that suppresses the primary frequencies of Russian drones. It can be easily deployed on various platforms, including vehicles and portable versions for infantry use.
The second place went to an innovative thrust block for rocket systems. This technology enhances the efficiency of combat missile launchers, achieving up to 25% fuel savings through a detonation-rotation engine.
The engine operates on the explosive-rotational principle, combining both reactive and kinetic thrust. Experts from Lviv Polytechnic University contributed to its development.
Some of the drawbacks of this engine include the complexity of flight course correction and installation instability. However, due to fuel savings and high speed, it enables longer flight distances. Additionally, it is simple and cost-effective to produce.
Similar technologies are actively being researched in the USA and China. In the US, the detonation-rotation engine is planned to be integrated into the missile armament of fourth-generation fighter jets.
The third place was awarded to a relay system for FPV drones, currently utilized in the Pokrovsk direction. This device maintains stable communication in challenging combat conditions thanks to a directional antenna that adjusts its position towards the attacking drone.
"Lviv City Council has long supported defense companies. We have vouchers worth 2 million UAH for those developing innovative solutions and 1 million UAH for companies looking to scale their existing projects. (...) Recently, together with the IRON cluster, we initiated a new support program for early-stage developments," says Olexa Voznyak, a deputy of the Lviv City Council.
He noted that grants can be awarded to projects with a technological readiness level as low as TRL-3, meaning at the conceptual stage. The Lviv City Council allocates funds: 300,000 UAH for the first place, 200,000 UAH for the second, and 150,000 UAH for the third.
Overall, for the years 2024-2025, the Lviv territorial community has issued 92 grants for defense developments, totaling 79.7 million UAH.
"The funds can be used for purchasing components, paying engineers' salaries, conducting tests, etc. Everything is aimed at creating a prototype and testing it," says Volodymyr Cherniuk, head of the IRON cluster.
