Abstract
UAVs have become a part of everyday life and they are used in all industries. Communication between the UAV and the operator is currently carried out by using radio communication in the VHF range or via satellite channels. In the first case, the radio communication range is limited to several kilometers; in the second case, the limitation is imposed by the small capacity of satellite channels. The use of HF radio communications with reflection from the Ionosphere makes it possible to obtain an almost unlimited range of operational communications, which is important when creating logistics networks. Not only ionospheric layers, but also auroral regions can be used to reflect a radio signal. This article describes a new type of towed directional antennas. This type of antennas can be placed on Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) for providing long-distance communication channels and exchange of telemetric information through the ionosphere. This type of antennas is highly efficient to use in the Arctic during magnetic storms, when traditional satellite communication is impossible. The oversize of the antennas allows for conducting radio sessions with small transmitter capacities over long distances with reflection from the ionosphere (ionospheric radio communication). The construction of an expanded network of ground-based radio beacons and ionospheric communication stations will allow the creation of automatic logistics networks based on heavy UAVs. The article also offers a description of the antenna orientation algorithms for tuning and operation.