FPV drones

British Army soldiers in the 1st Battalion of the Irish Guards use commercial video game simulators to train for drone warfare, requiring at least 30 hours of virtual practice before transitioning to real drones. The UK and US militaries emphasize that simulators save equipment, money, and training time by reducing errors from inexperienced pilots. The US Army employs a similar approach in its Unmanned Advanced Lethality Course at Fort Rucker.

The Pentagon acknowledges that U.S. drone production lags significantly behind Ukraine's output, with Ukraine projected to produce 6 million to 7 million FPV drones this year compared to the Pentagon's planned order of fewer than 200,000 under its $1.1 billion Drone Dominance program by February.

Ukrainian special forces are adopting new tactics, including walking more and increasing spacing between soldiers, to avoid Russian drone attacks. Soldiers carry shotguns as a last-resort defense against non-jammable drones, and the 'kill zone' near the front line is expanding due to rising drone activity.

Civilian casualties in Russia’s war against Ukraine increased by 37 percent in the first half of 2026, with 1,396 civilians killed and 7,978 injured. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine attributed the rise to long-range ballistic missiles, drones, glide bombs, and FPV drones.

Ukraine's elite special operators are conducting more infiltration missions due to the expanding drone-infested kill zone around the front line. The increase is attributed to the proliferation of Russian drones, forcing Ukrainian forces to execute targeted raids and adapt tactics. Similar infiltration tactics are now being used by Russian forces against Ukrainian rear areas.

Ukraine's Omega Special Purpose Center has developed an unmanned boat capable of launching FPV drones, supporting combat divers, and intercepting aerial threats. The platform aims to extend strike range and bolster Ukraine's naval unmanned systems fleet.

Ukrainian marines deployed Barracuda drone boats to launch FPV drones against Russian positions near Zaliznyi Port. The mission resulted in the destruction of Russian troops, equipment, and logistics, though one drone boat was lost to four Lancet strikes.

US Marines tested launching FPV drones from moving helicopters during a shipboarding exercise to scout target vessels and reduce mission risks. The experiment explored using helicopters as airborne command hubs and motherships for drones, mirroring tactics seen in Ukraine. The drones, primarily Nero Archer models, are cost-effective tools for maritime operations.

Russia’s FSB accused Ukrainian rapper Kyivstoner of involvement in a drone plot organized by Ukraine’s SBU, involving 35 FPV drones smuggled into Russia via European countries. The rapper denied any connection to the alleged attack.

Germany has financed 50,000 Ukrainian FPV strike drones in a €90 million deal. The drones are produced by Ukrainian firm SkyFall and use autonomous targeting software from US company Auterion, with some already delivered.

Russia has deployed upgraded 'anti-drone' tanks equipped with the Arena-M system, designed to counter FPV drones and anti-tank weapons. Leaked documents indicate joint development between Moscow and Beijing on next-generation armored vehicles incorporating AI, active protection systems, and drone integration.

Ukraine is using naval drones like the Sea Baby and Magura as launch platforms for fiber-optic guided FPV attack drones, extending its strike range beyond the Black Sea coast. The technology, developed by Ukraine’s SBU and GUR, has been tested in attacks on Russian ports and adopted by U.S. forces in Indo-Pacific exercises.

Ukraine's 3rd Assault Brigade runs the Killhouse Academy, an intensive drone training program for Ukrainian soldiers and foreign volunteers to master combat drone operations. The training focuses on skills like evading defenses, handling jamming, and adapting to Russian tactics, emphasizing that skilled operators can turn cheap drones into effective asymmetric weapons in warfare.

Hasan Dorr argues that Hezbollah's resilience has surprised Israel and Lebanese authorities, maintaining its capacity to hinder Israel's advance in southern Lebanon. He highlights the effectiveness of FPV drones, similar to Kornet missiles in 2006, and notes Israel's 'yellow line' security measures do not ensure full control.

Ukraine has outproduced and outdeployed Russia in FPV drones at a 1.5 to 1 ratio, according to Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky, who reported nearly 180,000 verified targets struck in May and 4,000 Shahed drones neutralized, with long-range units targeting Russian command centers and logistics hubs.

Ukraine confirmed equipping long-range drones with rocket launchers firing Soviet-era S-5 unguided rockets as part of an escalating mid-range strike campaign targeting Russian logistics. The use of drone-launched missiles or rockets is not a new concept.

The French Army hosted its first international drone competition at Chaumont-Semoutiers airbase, where NATO soldiers raced FPV drones and shared tactical insights. The event combined drone racing with simulated military strikes, reflecting FPV drones' growing role in modern warfare, particularly in Ukraine, where they now inflict 60% of Russian army losses.