June 2026 – Vilnius
The Lithuanian defence technology company RSI Europe has launched its Drone Repeater Kit (DRK) — an airborne retransmission system designed to extend FPV drone operations beyond the limits of ground-based antennas and improve link resilience in EW-contested and rough terrain environments. The system is already in active combat use with Ukrainian units and in service with the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
The DRK consists of two integrated components: a Repeater Unit (RTK) mounted on a carrier drone, and a Mini Antenna Rack (MAR) that operates from the ground. Together they elevate the FPV control and video link above terrain obstacles — forests, hills, urban structures, fortified positions — restoring stable communication where ground antennas reach their physical limits.
The DRK serves as the native communications backbone of RSI Europe’s Shpak FPV family, completing a fully integrated, mission-ready system delivered as one operational capability — strike drones, ground control, and airborne retransmission engineered to work together. The DRK is also compatible with third-party drone platforms.
The DRK was developed in response to operational requirements identified through direct feedback from Ukrainian FPV operators and through evaluations conducted with allied units. The system addresses range, terrain, EW resilience, and operator survivability constraints associated with ground-based antenna setups in active sectors.
“What the DRK gives an FPV team is the ability to operate from concealed positions and still maintain a stable link beyond terrain obstacles. The repeater goes where the team can’t — over a hill, above a treeline, into clean line-of-sight — while the operators stay where they’re safe,” said Martynas Antanaitis, Product Manager at RSI Europe.
Key capabilities
- Operational range of up to 25 kilometres in mixed terrain, with stable line-of-sight maintained from altitude
- Improved EW resilience — clean line-of-sight from altitude preserves more of the link’s signal margin against jamming
- Mini Antenna Rack (MAR) — IP67-certified, suitcase-form-factor unit with a 50-metre cable, allowing operators to remain in concealed positions
- Cross-platform compatibility — transmitters compatible with 3rd party drones, with broad frequency coverage
- Integrated status indicators — LED-based link confirmation across each leg of the communication chain, single-button pairing
- Setup time of 5 to 10 minutes
photo courtesy RSI Europe
