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The story of HIMERA didn't begin in cozy offices, but in the chaos of February 2022, when it became clear that without secure communication, even the bravest units remain vulnerable. Back then, Territorial Defense fighters in the Kyiv region were trying to coordinate using civilian "Baofeng" radios, which the enemy could easily jam and intercept. This very challenge compelled Misha Rudominskiy to shift his focus from the stars back to earth—pausing the development of his promising rocket startup, Promin Aerospace, to provide Ukrainian defenders with an invisible edge.
Today, HIMERA is more than just a radio; it is a Comprehensive Resilient Network that integrates soldiers, drones, and sensors into a single ecosystem. Having evolved from a volunteer initiative to securing U.S. Air Force contracts and NATO codification, the company proves that Ukrainian Defense Tech can outpace traditional global giants through rapid iteration and adaptability to real-world threats.
As part of our "Faces of Impact" series, we spoke with Misha Rudominski about a product philosophy built around the front line (the "zero"), the difficult choice between space and defense, and the ambition to create a communication standard that will help Ukraine achieve victory.

Himera was born in February 2022 from a specific problem: Territorial Defense fighters in the Kyiv region were communicating via civilian Baofengs, which were being jammed and intercepted. At the time, you were leading a rocket startup. What exactly made you leave Promin Aerospace to take on radios?
At that moment, it was important for me to find a way to help the Defense Forces here and now. I was looking for where my expertise could have the greatest impact. The communication problem was critical, and it was obvious that its solution directly influenced the units' ability to execute their tasks. That is exactly what defined my focus.
You say that HIMERA was built around the real user rather than procurement requirements. What does this process look like specifically—how do you get feedback from fighters at "the zero" and turn it into firmware updates?
We have two main processes: quantitative and qualitative. The quantitative one is based on constant online feedback: chats, calls, audio and video messages, and photos. We aggregate and analyze this data to understand what needs to be changed or improved.

The qualitative process involves working directly with users. We go out to proving grounds and combat positions, testing solutions alongside the military. This interaction provides a much deeper understanding of their needs, as direct contact allows users to share both their positive experiences and their problems more openly.

80+ firmware updates in three years is a pace that traditional defense contractors achieve in decades. How do you maintain this speed without sacrificing reliability in a product where a mistake costs a human life?
This is a battlefield requirement. At the same time, not every update reaches all users immediately. We work with specific units, whom we call our "early bird" partners, and test new versions with them in real-world conditions. Only after a solution passes verification in complex scenarios and we resolve the core issues is it implemented on a large scale. This approach allows us to maintain the balance between speed and reliability.
Quantum-resistant encryption via partnership with Quantropi seems like an unexpected move at first glance for a startup manufacturing field radios. Where did this decision come from, and why now?
This decision resulted from working with international partners, particularly within NATO. We see that such requirements are gradually appearing in standards and procurement. We decided to act proactively: if technologies capable of compromising classical encryption emerge in the coming years, the product must be ready in advance. Our partnership with Quantropi allowed us to implement this solution right now.
You openly state that in Ukraine, HIMERA sells nearly at cost, and international sales are the only thing that allows you to keep prices low for the AFU. Is this a deliberate business model or a forced compromise—and how sustainable is it?
Ukraine has a regulatory environment that limits profit margins, but this also aligns with our internal logic. We deliberately make the product as accessible as possible for the Ukrainian military. All funds we receive in Ukraine are reinvested into product development, user support, and service improvement. International markets provide the opportunity to scale the business while maintaining accessibility for the Defense Forces.

From $525k in March 2024 to $2.5M in December 2025—the rounds closed quickly. What changed in the conversation with investors between the first and second rounds? When did "Ukrainian defense company" stop being a risk and become an opportunity?
Ukrainian defense tech has been an opportunity from the very beginning. It’s just that previously, only a few realized it, whereas now it has become more obvious to a wider circle of investors.
You claim readiness for 100,000 units per year. What is actually the most difficult constraint for scaling—production capacity, supply chain, talent, or something else?
The most difficult part is not production, but implementation. Communication is the core infrastructure that sustains unit operations. Changing it during active combat is a complex and sensitive process. Therefore, the transition must be gradual, without risking operations. This balance is exactly what we are building together with our users.

Forbes "30 Under 30 Europe," NATO codification, a contract with the U.S. Air Force—and it all began as a volunteer project. Which of these validation points changed something significant—not just in terms of reputation, but in how you personally think about HIMERA?
The strongest validation is the feedback from the military when they say directly that they couldn't have completed their mission without our product. And that under specific conditions, our solution was the only one that worked.
You see HIMERA not just as radios, but as a "Comprehensive Resilient Network"—the infrastructure for future combat operations where every drone, sensor, and soldier is a node in a single network. Where is the real line today between that vision and what is already in mass production?
Today, we already have a full-fledged tactical communication system. At the same time, we are gradually building a broader ecosystem that covers various use-case scenarios on the battlefield.

You left your position as CEO of Promin Aerospace in August 2025—a rocket startup that Forbes Ukraine described as a potential future unicorn. What did this decision mean to you personally?
It was a difficult decision. Promin Aerospace was an important part of my life, especially given my personal interest in the space industry. But I realized that by focusing on HIMERA, I could bring more value to the Defense Forces right now. And that was the deciding factor.
If, ten years from now, someone writes a case study about HIMERA in a defense innovation textbook—what sentence would you want to see as the main conclusion?
That our solutions genuinely impacted the outcome of the war and helped Ukraine defeat russia.
You are building a company in a closed sector where competitors share almost nothing. How does membership in Techosystem change this dynamic—do you feel that a different logic of openness exists within the Defense Cluster?
Yes, there is a different level of openness within the cluster. Because of the trust involved, members are more willing to share their expertise, ask questions, and discuss challenges. This creates added value for everyone.