Come Back Alive Foundation has provided the first group of heliborne forward air controllers with communication equipment as part of the Communication Formula project.

The news was published on the foundation’s website.

The first group of heliborne forward air controllers of the army aviation was fully equipped with unified secure communications equipment: the specialists received 45 sets worth UAH 5,257,696.

The photo shows the INVISIO T5 headset, which can be connected directly to Harris family of army radios.

‘What is special about these active headphones? Thanks to the additional components, the military will be able to quickly switch between two radio stations without losing seconds that are so valuable in combat,’ the foundation said.

Heliborne forward air controller, organise the interaction between ground forces and combat aviation, providing specific targeting for air strikes and transmitting live recording.

The gunners can provide direct communication at the battalion level with both the command of the army aviation brigade operating in the area and directly with the pilots performing the combat mission.

The equipment donated by the Foundation will enable the gunners to coordinate more effectively with the Armed Forces’ attack helicopters, which form the backbone of the Army Aviation fleet.

In total, the Foundation plans to raise UAH 20 million within the ‘Communication Formula’ project to provide advanced aviation gunners of the Ukrainian army aviation with secure communications equipment.

In this way, the philanthropists plan to cover 100% of the needs of heliborne forward air controllers from five army aviation brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Since the beginning of the invasion, Come Back Alive has been supporting this component of the Armed Forces. In June 2024, the foundation, together with Ukrhydroenergo, handed over new off-road vehicles to the air gunners of four brigades.

At the time, the charity said that the SUVs, as well as eight Starlink car kits and additional sets of tyres and cars, had already been helping perform combat missions.