Ukrainian technology company DETECT GROUP has unveiled the SeekLevel direction finder, designed to be mounted on UAVs to detect enemy electronic warfare systems. The company told Militarnyi about the development.
The SeekLevel direction finder is one element of DETECT GROUP’s proposed concept for changing the approach to countering tactical electronic warfare systems. Instead of constantly adapting each UAV to operate amid electronic interference, the company proposes first detecting and destroying the sources of the interference themselves.
UAV protection against electronic warfare currently involves a range of technologies. These include operating on different frequencies, frequency hopping, automatic target-acquisition modules, repeaters, fibre-optic spools and satellite communications. The problem with this approach is that it requires continuous upgrades to software and onboard equipment. This, in turn, makes UAVs more complex and increases their cost.
DETECT GROUP proposes making the fight against electronic warfare a separate stage of combat operations. First, an area of the frontline that needs to be cleared of electronic interference would be identified. UAVs equipped with direction finders could then be sent into the area. They would locate sources of radio emissions and determine their positions for subsequent strikes.
Once the mission is complete, the company proposes using electronic intelligence (ELINT) systems to verify the results. This would confirm that the detected electronic warfare systems had actually been destroyed or had stopped transmitting.
If an area can be cleared of active electronic warfare systems, a much larger number of conventional UAVs could be deployed there. At the same time, there would be no need to equip each of them with expensive electronic countermeasure systems.
DETECT GROUP believes the proposed concept could create so-called “clean corridors” for UAV operations in certain areas of the frontline – zones where the impact of enemy electronic warfare systems is minimised after they have been detected and destroyed.
What is known about the SeekLevel direction finder
SeekLevel operates across the 1500–6000 MHz frequency range. According to the developer, the UAV-mounted module is designed to help the crew determine the direction of a signal source and subsequently locate it for a potential strike.
The direction finder uses two antennas to determine the direction of a signal. The system calculates the azimuth of the signal source and estimates the strength of its radio emissions.
The operator can see this data during the flight. SeekLevel transmits the information via an OSD interface. OSD (On-Screen Display) is a technology that overlays telemetry data on the video feed from a UAV camera, allowing the operator to access the necessary information without switching between different interfaces.
SeekLevel is compatible with ArduPilot and Betaflight flight controllers. The module can be configured and connected via Wi-Fi using a smartphone.
The module measures 300×150×90 mm and weighs 200 grams. Its power consumption does not exceed 6 W, while its operating voltage ranges from 12 to 50 V. This allows SeekLevel, according to the company, to be integrated with various UAV platforms. The direction finder can detect weak radio signals, with the receiver’s stated sensitivity reaching −94 dBm.
DETECT GROUP is a Ukrainian technology company specialising in the development and improvement of radio signal processing and analysis technologies. The company develops technological solutions for monitoring the radio-frequency spectrum, detecting and classifying signal sources and precisely determining their direction in real time.
According to the developer, deployment of SeekLevel direction finders among military units began in 2025. The company says the system has already undergone combat testing and received positive feedback from a number of Ukrainian units.