Ukrainians launch production of new FPV drones for the Armed Forces
Experts estimate that Ukraine’s defenders now need 24,000 FPV drones to effectively conduct combat operations.
A Ukrainian company is preparing to produce FPV drones, which the military needs for a counteroffensive in the south of the country. The company AirUnit will be responsible for this, dev.ua reports.
AirUnit supplied DJI, Aaronia AG, and EcoFlow equipment to the market before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Armed Forces. Now the company has re-profiled and is training the military, and is going to mass-produce FPV drones, which the Ukrainian military has been successfully using to launch strikes against the occupiers. As a rule, these are fast and maneuverable drones capable of picking up grenades or explosives.
Such equipment does not need additional stabilization. The quadcopter can be operated by one operator, who will have maximum control over this gadget. In addition, FPV drones can reach speeds of up to 100 km/h and are virtually invulnerable to electronic warfare. Upon reaching the target, FPV drones explode, which is why the Armed Forces need such drones in large numbers.
Photo: Dev.ua
These drones operate using an integrated system consisting of several key components, including a camera, transmitter, receiver, and a controlling controller. This technique can be used to shoot art videos, work on creating commercials, and monitor the environment. For the military, these drones are primarily valuable because of their ability to monitor the situation in certain areas of the frontline.
According to preliminary estimates by analysts, the Ukrainian Armed Forces already need 24,000 tactical-level drones to be successful in combat operations. These needs cannot be met by UAVs purchased from China. That’s why a domestic manufacturer volunteered to fill this niche.
Photo: Dev.ua
AirUnit is finalizing process automation and preparing a plan to build its own IT team. The first stage is the creation of programs necessary for the management, development and production of various types of UAVs.
In April 2023, the media reported that hundreds of attack drones were being produced in Ukraine for $200 each, but this is still not enough. Ukrainian manufacturers cover a maximum of 20% of the military’s UAV needs. The Russians, who also supply their army with drones, are greatly interfering with the collection of drones.
And in late March, analysts talked about whether the Ukrainian Armed Forces would be able to get the 100,000 FPV drones that the Russians fear. Small kamikaze drones cost less than $1,000, but Ukrainians also need more expensive UAVs.
