Key points and summary: Ukraine’s drone war has reached unprecedented heights, with 1.2 million drones produced in 2024 alone. Key components include FPV kamikaze drones, reconnaissance quadcopters, and long-range attack UAVs like Lyutyy, which has a range of 600 miles.
– FPV dominates Ukraine’s arsenal, accounting for more than 90% of production and proving important in the anti-armor role. Heavy bombers, hybrid drones, and fixed-wing UAVs provide flexibility for reconnaissance, precision strike, and deep target missions.
– Ukraine’s innovative drone strategy, driven by evolving technology and battlefield demands, will reshape modern warfare and provide countries like the United States with a blueprint to update their drone fleets. I am.
Ukraine reveals order of battle for drones
Numerous small unmanned aircraft have become a key element of Ukraine’s ground war. This development was formalized last year with the establishment of the Unmanned Systems Army as a separate branch of the military, a move later copied by Moscow.
However, the exact composition of this force is a mystery. While the composition of the armored battalion in terms of tanks, IFVs, artillery and other hardware is known, the composition of the unmanned armored battalion has not been made public so far.
Figures released by Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense last month show total drone production in 2024 and provide insight into the proportion of different types of drones deployed. The total for the year is a whopping 1.2 million drones, the majority of which are small FPV kamikazes.
This is not a complete description of Ukrainian drones. Early in the war, before the military could assess the value of these types, volunteers and fundraising organizations bypassed the military procurement process and supplied drones directly to Army units. This activity continues on an impressive scale. Fundraiser Serhii Sternenko organized a wartime effort to supply more than 133,000 FPVs, more than the number of drones owned by NATO forces.
Official figures give a good indication of the composition of the drone force and the proportion of different types.
FPV: disposable drone
Not surprisingly, more than 90% of the drones supplied are small first-person view (“FPV”) suicide attack drones derived from racing quadcopters.
These are one-way loitering weapons that not only form the backbone of Ukraine’s anti-armor capabilities, but also destroy firing positions, artillery and logistics vehicles behind the front lines. They come in a wide variety of designs and typically range from 7-inch to 12-inch frames.
Over the past year, FPV has gotten significantly larger. The first model identified in 2022 typically carried a 1.5 kg/3 lb warhead. Newer models are more substantial, with typical payloads around 2-3 kg / 4-6 lbs, making them more effective against heavier armor and larger targets. It has a maximum range of approximately 12 miles, but is primarily used between 3 and 6 miles.
The number of night-capable thermal FPVs has not been disclosed, but if the released kill videos are any indication, these are just a small portion of the total. This year, Ukraine also began using interceptor FPVs to target Russian reconnaissance drones. Although the number is unknown, they have recorded over 1000 kills.
In terms of unit price, Sternenko said the FPVs his organization supplies range from $300 to $460 for daytime models and $700 to $800 for nighttime versions, depending on size. Those obtained under government contracts may be more expensive, but the general range is the same.
Ukraine drone procurement. 19Created by the author for use on FortyFive.com
Quadcopter: eyes in the sky, bombs in the sky
The next most common type is reconnaissance quadcopters, a class that includes light bombers with payloads of less than 2 pounds.
Ukraine acquired more than 40,000 of these, of which more than 12,000 (just over a third) were “night” drones with thermal imaging capabilities that allow them to operate in the dark. Most of them are repurposed and lightly modified commercial drones.
Quadcopters have become essential for surveillance, reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, damage assessment, and directing artillery fire. It also serves as a light bomber, capable of dropping grenades against personnel and destroying abandoned vehicles.
In military missions, firmware is updated, or “hacked,” to prevent drones from broadcasting their location and remove restrictions imposed by Chinese manufacturers. They typically stay a short distance from the Russian lines to avoid interference and use zoom cameras to get a close-up view.
The DJI Mavic 3 seems to be one of the most popular types. Marketed as a “everyday drone,” the Mavic 3 features advanced autopilot, obstacle avoidance, a high-quality 4/3 CMOS camera with 56x hybrid zoom, and a 45-minute flight time. The Mavic 3T version has an infrared camera with a resolution of 640×512. On the other hand, although inferior to military models, it allows the drone to continue operating at night (with reduced range) even when other drones are on the ground. The Mavic 3T retails for approximately $4,000.
Fixed Wing: Deep Strike Reconnaissance
The next most important type was the fixed-wing aircraft-based reconnaissance UAV, of which 5,000 were supplied, including the Shark, GOR, and Furia.
These have much longer range and durability than quadcopters and can carry out reconnaissance missions deep into Russian occupied territory. These are drones that locate targets for HIMARS, Storm Shadow, and other long-range weapons and artillery and capture video of the resulting attacks in real time.
The A1-CM Furia has a 7-foot wingspan and can fly for up to three hours on a single battery charge. Transmit data from up to 30 miles / 50 km away. It can navigate without satellite assistance and is equipped with day and night sensors. Estimated cost is approximately $70,000.
night bombers
Heavy bombers are one of Ukraine’s most feared drones.
Russians call them “Baba Yaga” after the witches of Slavic folklore, and have a superstitious fear of them. Battlefield myths claim that battlefields can only be destroyed with flamethrowers and that Baba Yagas swoops down at night and carries off wounded Russian soldiers with her metal claws.
Ukraine acquired more than 2,000 of these reusable attack multicopters in 2024. There were several types from different manufacturers, including Nemesis, Kazan (“Bat”), and Vampire.
Bombers are much larger than civilian quadcopters, typically with six to eight rotors, but can still be carried by one person. They typically fly at low altitudes at night to avoid air defense, hovering over targets and dropping bombs with high precision. The E620 Kazhan can carry payloads up to 44 pounds/20 kilograms or less over long distances (up to 8 miles).
The weapons are typically 82 mm or 120 mm mortar bombs, or TM-62 anti-tank mines converted into aerial bombs. Heavy bombers are also used as minelayers, placing anti-tank mines on railroad tracks and roads, or blocking passage through minefields. The reported cost is approximately $20,000.
Ukrainian drones in numbers. 19Image created by the author for FortyFive.com
multipurpose hybrid
The final tactical category was labeled “Reusable FPV Helicopters” and numbered 5,000.
These sit somewhere between a kamikaze FPV and a quadcopter. Lacking more expensive electronic equipment, especially cameras and other sensors, it can function effectively as a bomber, minelayer, or transport aircraft, bringing supplies to the front lines when troops are cut off. Masu.
In 2024, “drone carrier” drones were used for the first time, acting as FPV motherships and communications repeaters.
The largest known reusable FPV is the Queen Honet model manufactured by Wild Hornets, which has a 15-inch frame and can carry up to 15 pounds, but costs less than $2,000 .
long range attack
The last category of drones is in a different class than the others.
These are long-range attack drones, effectively small propeller-driven cruise missiles launched at strategic targets hundreds of miles away. These are in response to the Iranian-designed Shahed drone, which Russia has been bombing Ukraine with for more than two years.
Shahed-136 drone. Image credit: YouTube screenshot.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense has purchased more than 6,000 deep strike drones, also of several types, including the Ryuty (“fierce”) and Firepoint. Analyst H.I. Sutton says the range ranges from modified Soviet reconnaissance drones and crude models made of plastic pipes assembled in garages to modified light aircraft and sophisticated electronics. More than 22 types of Ukrainian attack drones have been identified, ranging from advanced models. Again, many of these were created by civilian efforts, with the Department of Defense presumably selecting and acquiring the most capable personnel.
These drones have had considerable success setting fire to Russian oil facilities and attacking air bases and other strategic targets. They are not yet produced as much as Russia’s Shahid, but if plans to build 30,000 units next year come to fruition, they could have a big impact on Russia’s struggling economy.
The most commonly seen type is the Luti, which has a wingspan of 23 feet, a range of more than 600 miles, and a payload of over 100 pounds of explosives. The cost is said to be around $200,000.
future forces
The breakdown given is that the conceptual drone company has approximately 1,000 FPVs, 5 long-range reconnaissance drones, 40 short-range quadcopters, 5 multi-purpose hybrid aircraft, 2 bombers, and long-range attack drones. suggests that it is assigned to a higher hierarchy. This is your hardware spending for the year. FPV in particular is ammunition and other types, especially quadcopters, can have higher attrition rates.
FPV teams can pass through drones at high speeds. An extreme example is the operator Timofi Orel, who destroyed 42 tanks, 44 BMPs, 10 MT-LBs, 28 BTR/APCs and over 400 vehicles between January and May 2024. He was awarded the title “Hero of Ukraine” for his defeat. Enemy personnel. This kind of success is only possible through close collaboration with the reconnaissance drone operators who spot the targets.
switchblade drone. Image credit: Industry handout.
Less active FPV operators use several FPVs a day in combat, but like artillery ammunition, more are always needed.
Finding the right balance between low-cost short-range systems and more expensive long-range reconnaissance and attack drones is difficult. Drone technology is rapidly evolving. But the shape of the future force may be emerging now. And that will be important for all countries considering updating their drone fleets, including the United States.
Author Profile: David Hambling
David Hambling is a London-based journalist, author and consultant specializing in defense technology with over 20 years’ experience. He has written for Aviation Week, Forbes, The Economist, New Scientist, Popular Mechanics, WIRED, and more. His books include Weapons Grade: How Modern Warfare Gave Birth to Our High-tech World (2005) and Swarm Troopers: How small drones will conquer the world (2015). He has closely observed the continued evolution of small military drones. Follow @David_Hambling.
