In the context of the brutal warfare in Ukraine, when the aggressor uses expensive, mass-produced weapons, any effective means of defense is valuable beyond words. In the modern world, a combat Ukrainian FPV drone has become such an innovative tool. 

Under the skillful hands of the Ukrainian military, drones show high combat results. The goal of Dignitas is to develop investments and donations in the creation of a drone army to protect the land and people of Ukraine.

How are FPV Drones Used in Ukraine?

To better understand the topic, we need to start with a general question: What is an FPV drone? The official abbreviation stands for the First Person View drones. During the war in Ukraine, these drones expanded their range of possible functions, moving away from videography to practical military operations.

Fast FPV quadcopters are used as kamikaze drones after installing a combat unit or bomber drones with installed light devices for dropping bombs.

Revolutionary in the Ukraine FPV Drones Usage

Ukrainian FPV drones are equated with sniper weapons, thanks to exactly these features: 

  • Drone operators are safer than snipers, as they can be 2-3 kilometers away from the enemy in a fortified shelter with only the antenna exposed. 
  • The drone itself is more dangerous than its operators, which is why, the enemy tries to destroy exactly the drone.
  • The revolutionary nature of this weapon lies in the possibility of delivering high-precision strikes with extremely cheap means, which was previously the prerogative of expensive and complex systems used on a point-by-point basis. 
  • Another advantage of such drones over fixed-wing drones is their increased maneuverability, which provides better accuracy and evasion.
  • Drone costing from several hundred to several thousand dollars can effectively destroy equipment worth millions of dollars, such as tanks, artillery, electronic warfare, air defense systems, and others.

More About the Characteristics of the Combat Ukrainian FPV Drone

FPV drones in Ukraine can be used in conjunction with surveillance UAVs, which improves situational awareness and effectiveness. However, FPV drones alone are ineffective in surveillance due to the lack of software stabilization and poorer optics. 

These quadcopters use specially designed factory-made ammunition, improvised standard ammunition, or completely self-made explosive devices. Among them, the most common is the use of RPG-7 warheads.

How did FPV Drones in Ukraine Start Being Used in the War?

The lack of military and human resources in Ukraine has led to the need to find creative ways to wage warfare. The first successful use of an FPV drone in Ukraine on a military operation to strike enemy positions was carried out by fighters from the volunteer unit “Signum”. This remarkable breakthrough event is captured in a video called “Blue Doors”.

Expanded Use of FPV Drones in Ukraine and Building up of the Arsenal

Following the successful use of an FPV drone as a kamikaze against the Russian invasion forces in 2022, such systems were already being purchased and assembled by volunteers and private enterprises. By the beginning of 2023, these units were widely used by the Ukrainian army and were purchased by the thousands, becoming part of the regular weaponry.

It is also important to emphasize that Ukrainian Special Forces later used FPV drones in battles with “Wagner” mercenaries during the conflict in Sudan.

The Reason Behind the Expansion of the Usage of Combat Ukrainian FPV Drones

The introduction of FPV drones on the battlefield served as a replacement for the previously widespread DJI Mavic bomber drones, which proved to be a breakthrough technology in the field of surveillance, but were too expensive to be used in strike missions.

The Origin of the Grenade Drone Production

At present, both Ukraine and Russia have already established mass production facilities for own FPV drones on their territory. Both countries are also purchasing additional machines. In Ukraine, large-scale donation campaigns such as “Army of Drones” are being conducted to raise funds for different types of drones.

Army of Drones is a project for the comprehensive development of military unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) of various types in Ukraine and the comprehensive provision of drones to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which emerged as a response to the military invasion by the Russian military in Ukraine.

Since August 2023, it is known that at least 3 state-owned factories have been producing these types of UAVs in Ukraine. By October of the same year, the approximate production volume was known to be 1,000 drones per month. 

6 Ukrainian models were developed and approved for permanent service. A month later, it was reported that production had increased to 12-15 thousand FPV drones per month at a cost of $300-700. Another month later, a statement was made that Ukrainian defense companies had produced as many as 50,000 FPV drones. The use of drones in warfare has become so widespread that Ukraine has formed a separate type of troops using drones.

Who Supplies Ukrainian FPV Drone Campaign?

From all of the above, it became clear that there is a large number of Ukrainian drone manufacturers which has evolved and significantly matured over the past 2 years. Even though originally most of the components were sourced from China, the demand has caused local manufacturers to start producing local components, from drone frames to electric motors and printed circuit boards. 

Ukraine is currently trying to increase its own production of parts for assembling and building drones on its own. However, because most of the components come from the civilian market, these parts usually have a very small signal range, which is a weakness of a large number of military electronic equipment due to the use of electronic warfare (EW) by enemies. 

High-quality electronic warfare equipment requires high capacity and, accordingly, more bulky equipment, which contributed to the creation of compact electronic warfare systems currently used by many troops. Powerful electronic warfare devices are mostly mounted on armored vehicles and other military transport. 

However, there is a constant search for EW countermeasures, such as individual frequencies, frequency hopping, automated flight patterns, and even fiber-optic drones, which will help maintain the effectiveness of drones. Since many civilians are now creating drone parts, even you can contribute to their creation.

Starting in January 2024, the Zhytomyr City Council launched the Zhytomyr Drone project, which aims to teach civilians how to construct Ukrainian FPV drones on their own. The platform allows you to take online training, choose a type of drone, and have it tested. You can also send a donation or become a supplier of spare parts.

What FPV Drones Are Ukraine Using?

Regardless of the limited functionality of the FPV drones and the lack of maneuverability, payload capacity, flight range, and time, these drones can still perform various combat missions that justify their effectiveness. There are a number of uses for FPV drones:

  • Kamikaze drones—fairly self-explanatory, these are self-destructive drones that are equipped with a cumulative projectile that, when skillfully piloted, can cause significant damage and sometimes even destroy the target.
  • Bomber drones—these are usually more valuable drones that have increased lift capacity, which allows them to carry more explosives, as well as a projectile ejection system. Such systems are often self-made, which requires a lot of creativity. In the hands of a skilled pilot, the dropped shells can take out an entire tank if the bomb hits an open tank hatch.  
  • Surveillance drones—although FPV drones are not well suited for surveillance missions, even with night vision, there are still cases when they are better than nothing.
  • Utility drones—used for carrying specialized communication equipment like repeaters and retranslators to increase the communication capability of other drones.
  • Cargo drones—transport drones with high payload capacity. Among their tasks may be the delivery of provisions and ammunition to the hottest combat areas. An important task that these aircraft can also perform is rescue missions. 

It is these drones that Dignitas is interested in as part of our “1000 Drones for Ukraine” initiative. The goal of this campaign is for Ukrainian first responders and defenders to use drones to quickly deploy essential supplies, medical equipment, emergency aid, food, and water to hard-to-reach areas to save the lives of soldiers and civilians.

Ukrainian FPV drones with Dignitas

Dignitas recognized the initiative of FPV drone technology at the beginning of 2023 and relentlessly popularized these types of drones, due to their multitasking capabilities and low cost, on the battlefield in Ukraine. 

Through our training program, Victory Drones, as well as supporting the drone manufacturing community—we held 5 big showcase events in Ukraine called “Demo Days”. These events gave a powerful push to the small-scale drone manufacturing community. 

Most of these drone manufacturers have now grown to a much bigger scale and are successfully helping Ukrainian forces defend against Russian aggression. Dignitas remains on the cutting edge of technology development—we constantly update our training materials as technologies advance non-stop. We are currently exploring the space of unjammable fiber optic-enabled drones. Contact us to increase the beneficial impact of the fund together.

FAQ

What drones is Ukraine using?

It is estimated that Ukraine uses about 100 different types of drones that have now become military aircraft, ranging from toy systems to large models with a wingspan of almost 20 meters. This range is explained by the large number of military operations in which different functionalities can be applied.

Do Russians use FPV drones?

Yes, they do. Unfortunately, their use of FPV drones is not much worse than that of Ukraine. Aggressors are keeping up with the progress on the battlefield and keeping pace with the development of UAV technologies. That’s why we need to increase our support in donating drones to Ukraine, and we can only do it with your help.

What kind of drones is Ukraine using?

The main drones in Ukraine’s forces are long-range kamikaze drones, FPV kamikaze drones, DJI Mavic reconnaissance copters, reconnaissance aircraft, winged drones, as well as attack copters and aircraft.

What drones is Ukraine using to drop bombs?

DJI or Autel drones for reconnaissance, mostly Mavic 3T and 640T with thermal imaging optics. Bomb drops are no longer as effective as they were at the beginning of the invasion, which is why they are still only used to disable abandoned vehicles or attack remaining troops.

How much does a Ukrainian FPV drone cost?

The cost depends on the size and needed functions of the FPV but still can be as cheap as $300.

Can FPV drones destroy tanks?

They can and they are. Even a small drone costing only $300 can destroy a tank or other military vehicle that costs 3 million USD or more.

Why are FPV drones effective?

They are cheap compared to other military specialized technology, yet very effective. Their effectiveness is comparable to that of snipers, but more efficient in terms of destructive power and flexibility in performing tasks.