Russia's Center for Unmanned Systems and Technologies told TASS on 28 October that VA Technologies' SOVA visual-navigation system had completed a field test on an uncrewed aircraft. SOVA compares the aircraft's camera view with stored satellite imagery to estimate position when satellite navigation or external communications are unavailable. The developer had described the product earlier; the newly reported development is a specific field route.
What the reported test involved
According to the center's account, the aircraft flew a star-shaped route through four waypoints and returned to its launch point. The test deliberately used spring 2025 imagery that differed from the current terrain. Between the second and third waypoints, a field's appearance differed from the stored map; the aircraft reportedly deviated before correcting its position near a tree line. This is a supplier-linked test description relayed through a direct TASS interview, without published flight logs, measured error, independent observers or an identified aircraft type.
VA Technologies markets SOVA as an onboard computer-vision tool for use without GPS/GNSS and says it currently integrates with ArduPilot. Its own product information acknowledges reduced reliability when ground visibility is poor, including fog, heavy precipitation or low light. The center quoted a developer estimate of up to 99% mission resilience without GPS, but published no test design or sample size supporting that figure; it should not be treated as a measured success rate.
Status and implications
One reported route shows a test claim for navigation under deliberate map mismatch. It does not establish military adoption, repeatability under jamming, performance in different seasons or service acceptance. Further evidence would include independent position-error measurements, varied-terrain and weather trials, integration details and any military procurement notice. The site's communications and sensor-fusion guides explain why a navigation subsystem result is narrower than a complete aircraft capability.
Publication history
- — Added the reported four-waypoint SOVA field test while distinguishing it from older product claims, measured performance and military adoption.
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Follow the evidence
Source types identify who makes the claim. Programme milestones and supplier statements should be read in context.
- TASS direct report quoting the Center for Unmanned Systems and Technologies, 28 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)Direct source interview
- VA Technologies, SOVA product information (opens in a new tab)Developer technical background
