{"id":5912,"date":"2026-05-08T06:51:09","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T13:51:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/defensetechforukraine.org\/?p=5912"},"modified":"2026-05-11T05:55:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T12:55:00","slug":"tracking-tags-for-drone-warfare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/defensetechforukraine.org\/hu\/product-development\/tracking-tags-for-drone-warfare\/","title":{"rendered":"Nyomk\u00f6vet\u0151 c\u00edmk\u00e9k a dr\u00f3nhadvisel\u00e9shez"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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How to Designate Targets and Improve Training<\/strong><\/h2>\n

May 09, 2026
By Simon Samodurov<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n



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Devices not to scale<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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In this research article, DTU evaluates commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) tracking tags for usage in drone training and combat. The study compares Bluetooth-based devices such as Apple AirTags, Tile Pro, Samsung SmartTags and dedicated micro-GPS trackers against metrics critical for First-Person View (FPV) and standard quadcopter operations in the Ukrainian military.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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How Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Tags Work<\/span><\/h2>\n

Instead of communicating directly with satellites or cellular towers, a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) acts as a simple, low-power radio beacon. It continuously broadcasts a unique, encrypted identifier over the 2.4 GHz frequency band. Because it only transmits short, intermittent bursts of data rather than maintaining an active, heavy two-way connection, a tag can operate for up to a year on a single watch battery. This low weight and minimal power requirement make them highly suitable for disposable deployment from small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS).

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BLE tags operate in two ways – through anonymous network uploads from any nearby cell phone and direct short-range communication with the controlling cell phone(s). As both the training and combat environments are unlikely to contain networked cell phones nearby, most usage of the tags by the Ukrainian military will be direct, meaning limited to 150m or less detection range.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Operators can use specialized apps, handheld RF scanners, or drone-mounted microcontrollers to measure the signal strength of the 2.4 GHz broadcast. As the receiver moves closer to the tag, the signal strengthens, allowing operators to triangulate the exact location even in dense foliage or complex rubble. Additionally, many tags feature built-in piezoelectric speakers that can be triggered to emit high-decibel alarms, providing a final auditory cue to pinpoint a downed training asset in the last few meters of a search.

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Warnings When Using Tags<\/span><\/h2>\n

When utilizing tags in a high-intensity electronic warfare (EW) environment like Eastern Ukraine, soldiers must navigate serious operational security (OPSEC) risks. These civilian devices were designed for finding lost keys, not for tactical use in the dense sensor network of the modern battlefield. Use of tracking tags contains significant risk of detection from enemy forces, or of accidental discovery by friendly forces and misidentification as Russian spy equipment.<\/span><\/p>\n

The following critical warnings are strongly recommended for any use of these powerful but dangerous tracking devices in a tactical environment.

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  1. Don\u2019t be a \u201cLighthouse\u201d<\/b> Commercial BLE tags continuously broadcast a beacon signal on the 2.4 GHz frequency band. While low-power, this emission is highly visible to military-grade Signals Intelligence (SIGINT). Russian Electronic Warfare units operate advanced detection systems (such as the Leer-3, Zhitel, and newer specialized UAS detectors like the Filin-I) that constantly scan for anomalies in the electromagnetic spectrum. Carrying an active BLE tag on your person essentially turns a soldier into a walking radio beacon, allowing enemy EW to triangulate their position even if their primary radios and smartphones are turned off.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n


    Solution: Always turn the tags off, preferably by removing their batteries, when not in use.

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    2. Notifications to Enemy Devices<\/b> If a Ukrainian drone drops an AirTag or SmartTag onto a Russian trench or vehicle to track it, the tag will eventually recognize it is moving away from its owner. It will then automatically push a notification (e.g., <\/span>“An AirTag is moving with you”<\/span><\/i>) to the smartphones of any Russian soldiers nearby. This civilian safety feature effectively acts as an early warning system for the enemy, blowing the element of surprise. In addition, commercial tags are programmed to emit a loud audio chime when they have been separated from their<\/span><\/p>\n

    paired smartphone for an extended period (usually between 8 and 24 hours, depending on the brand and firmware). If a tag is used to mark a hidden cache, a drone launch site, or is simply forgotten in a rucksack, it may begin beeping autonomously.<\/span><\/p>\n


    Solution: Adjust the settings of any target designator tag to not communicate with nearby devices. Training trackers can be set to automatically emit noise after a set interval of no contact with the owner\u2019s phone, making the drone easier to find. Any recovery operations relying on smartphones to track the tag should be done strictly from the rear echelon or via automated microcontrollers mounted on follow-on drones, keeping human operators offline and out of the EW crosshairs.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Using Tags for Drone Target Acquisition
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    A use of cheap commercial tracking tags is to drop them, typically from an ISR drone, near or onto enemy positions in order to facilitate the ability of follow on strike drones to find the target.

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    Best options:<\/span><\/p>\n