French startup Alta Arès is testing its AI-powered military technology and personnel recognition system in Ukraine. The system uses AI algorithms to detect and classify threats using a user-friendly interface that can be downloaded as an app.
Alta Arès’s connections to Ukraine stem from one of its founders, Adrian Kanter, who has built extensive ties in the country over the past decade. Kanter leveraged his connections within the Ukrainian Armed Forces to gain access to specialized units using his company’s technologies, giving him insight into their needs in terms of UAV detection capabilities.
More importantly, this gave him access to a large volume of video footage captured on the front lines. French engineers were able to use this valuable and highly coveted data to develop annotations and train their AI model. As a result, Alta Arès can now compete with the French geospatial intelligence specialist Preligens, as well as the European firm Helsing, which is investing heavily in testing its own algorithms.
The Alta Arès system can be installed on any of the commercial drones currently used by the Ukrainian military: DJI’s Mavic 3 Pro, Mavic 3 Thermal, and Matrice 300 RTK, Parrot’s French Annafi, and Autel Robotics’ EVO II Dual 640T. The company is also testing it on infrared imagery in Ukraine to detect and recognize enemy troops and vehicles moving under the cover of darkness. Night attacks and counterattacks are a characteristic feature of the Ukrainian conflict.
The French firm’s tool helps UAV teams deployed on the front lines analyze and detect movements, but it can also transmit data to regimental or battalion officers who monitor combat operations live via the Vega app. Alta Ares hopes to soon test its compatibility with Delta, Ukraine’s leading battlefield intelligence fusion application.
Kanter founded Alta Ares in January with Stanislas Walch. He quickly attracted the attention of Parrot, which partnered with the startup to license his algorithm. This technology is ideal for the Anafi Ukraine UAV, which is being quietly developed by Henri Seydoux’s team in Ukraine.
With its “combat-tested” tool, Alta Arès hopes to open doors to the French and US defense markets. It has already formed several private security partnerships in France and Africa, including with the French firm Chirron, headed by former French special forces operator Alexandre Alex.
