Serial production of 100% Ukrainian FPV drone has begun
17 March 2025 10:56
Ukrainian manufacturer of FPV drones Vyriy Drone has presented the first mass production batch of 1000 drones, which are assembled only from parts of domestic origin. This was reported by Ekonomichna Pravda, citing information from the manufacturer, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
This is the first mass production batch of the Ukrainian FPV drone equipped with thermal imaging cameras, made by order of the Army of Drones.
What is known about this Ukrainian drone
Vyriy Drone produces some of the parts for assembling its drones on its own, and some are provided by Ukrainian contractors. In particular, frames, initiation boards, flight controllers, and radio control systems are produced independently.
In turn, video transmitters were purchased from DEC-1, engines from Realgold LLC, and cameras from Odd Systems.
The cost of one FPV is about 30,000 UAH, because, according to the company’s representative, in mass production, drones made from Ukrainian components were reduced to the level of Chinese components.
How the drone was created
Vyriy Drone assembled the first FPV copter using components made in Ukraine in December last year. The company’s founder, Oleksiy Babenko, told Militarnyi about this.
The Vyriy Drone team began its journey away from imported spare parts back in 2023, guided by the desire to produce drones independently and minimize dependence on Chinese suppliers.
By the middle of last year, they managed to achieve a 70% localization rate on their production drones by replacing first the simplest mechanical parts and then more complex electronics. Until recently, the main problem was motors, video signal transmitters, and cameras, which were not produced in the country.
The situation has changed with the emergence of relevant local manufacturers. In terms of its technical characteristics, a fully localized copter is in no way inferior to its counterparts made of Chinese components.
What we know about the manufacturer of the Ukrainian FPV drone
Vyriy Drone is a Ukrainian innovative company that works in the field of Military Tech and specializes in technology. For more than two years, it has been supplying its products to all parts of the frontline.
The company emphasizes that from the very beginning, its main principles have been: product reliability, safety for the military, ease of use and affordability.
Thanks to its own development department and experienced engineers, the team instantly responds to changes in the situation on the battlefield, creating new solutions – new control frequencies, homing systems, and many others. Despite the economic and logistical challenges, the company does everything possible to make its products available to the military.
Bloomberg dedicated a separate article to Vyriy Drone. In particular, it was reported that the company produces about 6,000 different drones per month. The emergence of such drones, as noted in the article, has significantly changed the Ukrainian military economy, as the company produces a drone for $400-500, and it can destroy an enemy tank that costs $9 million.
It is noted that Ukraine is building its own supply chain for carbon fiber frames and screws, which are easy to buy domestically, even if they cost more than their Chinese equivalents. Also locally developed are wireless communication chips that use non-commercial frequencies that are harder to jam. Combined with the newly developed antenna technology, the range of the Ukrainian drone is already 25 kilometers, which, according to Bloomberg, is twice that of earlier models.
Ukrainian drone manufacturers have something to interest and surprise their foreign colleagues
Just a few days ago, a carrier drone capable of transporting up to six FPV drones was presented. It also acts as a repeater for communication between the operator and the FPV.
After being dropped from the carrier, the FPVs engage enemy EW, air defense, headquarters, and manpower at a distance they could not reach on their own.
This carrier drone was created by the Ukrainian company Autonomous Engineering R&D Ukraine.
The use of a balloon to intercept drones has also been evaluated abroad
The system of interceptor drones installed on the balloon is another example of the revival of interest in the use of balloons in modern conflicts. This was written by the TWZ portal.
According to the publication, a balloon drone is used to intercept enemy long-range kamikaze drones. The article also mentions the balloon’s manufacturer, the Ukrainian startup Aerobavovna.
Analyzing the photos that appeared on social media, the publication says that the existing system includes a launcher for one “interceptor” drone, as well as a sensor array suspended from the bottom of the balloon and other equipment.
The TWZ article notes that the use of various types of unmanned aerial vehicles to try to intercept other unmanned threats has become commonplace in the ongoing hostilities in Ukraine.
