#Application in Practice

History of TacticMap creation

01.04.2025

a_admin

Prerequisites: Why was the need created?

Have you ever thought about how crucial it is to stay one step ahead when it comes to security, survival, and efficiency on the battlefield? For many soldiers, this step was not just a matter of time but a matter of life and death. Before specialized software emerged, every day was a battle not only against the enemy but also against the planning process itself.

Imagine a situation: a military unit requires precise coordinates to complete a mission. But instead of quickly receiving the critical information needed for the operation’s success, they encounter serious obstacles.

Traditional paper maps seemed reliable, but they had several significant drawbacks that simply couldn’t be ignored:

Lack of real-time updates. The battlefield situation changes every minute, and any delay in receiving up-to-date information could have fatal consequences.
No fast way to share information. In times when every moment counts, delays in data transmission between units became critical to the success of the operation.
Manual calculations. Anyone who has ever tried to perform complex calculations on paper knows how much time it takes—and even more so, how many errors can occur.

But the worst part was the dangerous lack of knowledge. Many soldiers didn’t even know that different coordinate systems existed. Instead of receiving accurate, uniform coordinates, one unit might receive them in a format that didn’t match others. This led to losses, casualties, and — most frighteningly — the risk of failing the mission due to a simple mistake in location.

In such conditions, there arose an urgent need for a system that would not only allow marking a point on the map but also provide soldiers with the ability to work in real-time, with maximum accuracy and without unnecessary obstacles. Therefore, the need for TacticMap was not only obvious but also a matter of life and death.

Origin of the idea: How did TacticMap come to be?

Ideas that change the world often emerge on the front lines — where time and accuracy are valued not just in numbers, but in lives.

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the problems that soldiers had faced before became even more urgent, and a solution that could change the game was needed more than ever.

The staff officers, analysts, and our software development team joined forces to create a tool that not only solved existing problems but did so in the most challenging conditions. And thus, the idea of TacticMap emerged — a program that became a unique solution to critical challenges in modern warfare.

We clearly defined the requirements for the new tool, understanding that every parameter matters:

Offline operation – In field conditions, communication can be unstable, so we focused on the ability to use maps in offline mode. This ensured complete autonomy and independence from external factors.
Convenient communication – Soldiers should not worry about the security of data transmission. Therefore, fast and reliable transmission of tactical information without the risk of leakage became one of the key design aspects.
Simple interface – An intuitive design allowed for quick training, even for those with no prior experience using similar tools. Time spent on training is time that can determine the outcome of an operation.
Fast data updates – In combat conditions, there is no room for delays. The ability to instantly update information ensured flexibility and accuracy in decision-making.
Resilience to combat conditions – It was important for us that the program not only functioned but also worked efficiently in extreme conditions, preserving battery life and maintaining stability in the field.

These principles became the foundation of the TacticMap concept – a program that, we hoped, would enhance the effectiveness of military operations and become an essential tool for every soldier on the front lines. The idea became a reality, and every day we moved closer to solving the problems faced by the soldiers fighting for our freedom.

Development and Implementation: From Idea to Final Product

What lies behind the successful implementation of any innovative idea? It’s not just a matter of time, technology, or resources. It’s about deeply understanding the needs of the people who will use the product and the ability to adapt these needs to the most advanced technological solutions. And this is precisely what became the foundation for creating TacticMap.

Our team, composed of both experienced military specialists and top-tier programmers, was not just developing software — we were creating a tool that had to withstand the toughest challenges of the combat environment. We understood that every detail, every stage of development, had to be flawlessly adapted to the demands of real-time battlefield conditions.

The main technological solutions:

iOS: SwiftUI — we chose SwiftUI for its ability to ensure stability, performance, and high security. In iOS programming, it is not only important to have an intuitive interface, but also to guarantee reliability and fast performance, even in extreme conditions.
Android: Kotlin Jetpack Compose — for Android, we chose Kotlin along with Jetpack Compose because this technology allows for rapid product development and provides scalability, which is crucial for supporting various device models.
Server: Deployment infrastructure within the unit — our solutions are focused on mobility, so an important aspect was the ability to deploy the infrastructure directly within the unit, allowing for quick setup and system adaptation in any conditions.
Resource optimization: We understood that battery life and memory are limitations users face in the field. Therefore, development was focused on minimizing the load on devices, allowing the app to be used for extended periods without the need for recharging.

The first version of TacticMap was created for iOS because the military actively used iPhones, and there were few alternatives in the App Store that could meet all the requirements. After successful testing and improvements, we released the Android version, which significantly expanded our audience and increased the availability of the product to a larger number of users.

And so, after months of development, testing, and refinement, we were able to present a product that became a real tool on the battlefield — reliable, fast, and ready for any challenges.

Challenges and their overcoming

The development of TacticMap was filled with numerous challenges, each of which became an opportunity for innovative solutions that made the product effective in combat conditions, where every detail matters.

Our team worked with maximum dedication to ensure that each stage of development met the real-time requirements.

Storing a large number of maps without increasing the app’s size – An important task was to store maps in offline mode to ensure the app’s autonomy and independence from the Internet.
Performance optimization – The task was not only to ensure the app worked, but to make it fast and efficient in field conditions, where every second counts.
Working with server infrastructure – One of the main challenges was creating a server infrastructure that allows for real-time data storage and updates. We had to carefully work on the data model to generalize and structure the information in a way that would be most useful to the users.
Gathering feedback from military personnel to improve functionality – The development of TacticMap was a dynamic process, and we always took user feedback into account. Thanks to regular field trials involving military personnel, we were able to quickly make necessary adjustments and adapt the app to the real combat conditions. This allowed us to create a product that meets the military’s needs and is capable of functioning effectively in extreme situations.

These challenges not only shaped the essence of TacticMap but also demonstrated that developing high-quality software for military needs requires continuous improvement and adaptation to new realities.

Beta testing, which involved over 20 military users, became a crucial stage in refining the product. Thanks to this, we were able to quickly identify and fix shortcomings, making the application highly effective for combat use during the early stages of development. This was an important step towards creating a product that meets the real-time requirements of the battlefield.

Usage in Military Operations

TacticMap today is not just a map, but a powerful tool for planning and coordinating operations at the tactical level. The app has become indispensable for tactical units, helping not only with navigation but also with effectively carrying out combat missions.

Main achievements:

Tactical symbols according to the APP-6 standard — Using the NATO APP-6 standard to simplify communication between units, enabling rapid exchange of critical information.
Geospatial layers — Provide the ability for more detailed analysis of the battlefield situation, including data on enemy positions and natural obstacles.
Integration with other systems — We aim to further integrate with other military tools, enabling seamless coordination among units at the tactical level.

Current status

TacticMap is actively evolving, responding to new challenges and user requirements. With each update, we add new features, improve the interface, and implement cutting-edge technologies.

Statistics for today:

More than 1000 active users on iOS and Android, and this number is constantly growing.
We capture 50+ new users every day, which is a clear signal of high demand on TacticMap.

Plans for the future

We continue to actively develop TacticMap to make it an even more effective tool for soldiers on the front lines. Key areas of development include:

Expanding the functionality of the Android version to ensure full compatibility with the iOS version and improve cross-platform interaction.
UkropSync — a data synchronization feature between users for collaborative operation planning, which will significantly ease real-time interaction.
Integration of mapping services, such as satellite imagery and topographic maps, for even more accurate situational analysis.
Creating an API for integration with other military systems, which will enhance interoperability between units and improve the effectiveness of combat operations management.
Optimizing the handling of large numbers of objects to improve performance and usability in field conditions.
Expanding support for devices, including tablets and specialized military communication systems, to ensure maximum versatility and accessibility of the app.

A look into the future

The future of TacticMap promises to be just as exciting, as we aim to adapt our product to the latest demands and technologies. We are confident that with advanced algorithms for analyzing large amounts of data and making optimal decisions in real-time, command units will be able to respond effectively to changes in the situation.

TacticMap is not just an application, but a true partner for the military, making operations more precise, faster, and safer. Constant development, user support, and their feedback will help us make TacticMap an essential tool for future military operations.

Through collaboration with the military, we were able not only to create high-quality software but also to set new standards for tools that ensure safety and efficiency on the battlefield.

We don’t stop at our achievements and continue to work on improving TacticMap, so that every soldier and every unit can reliably rely on this tool in the most crucial moments.