FPV
First-Person View drone; cheap kamikaze drone technology dominating the ground war in Ukraine.
Last refreshed: 16 April 2026
Why is a $400 FPV drone changing the Ukraine war more than a $30 million missile?
- What is an FPV drone and how is it used in Ukraine?
- FPV drones are small first-person view cameras on cheap quadcopters flown kamikaze-style into targets. They cost from $400, dominate front-line tactics, and are now the primary cause of armoured vehicle losses in Ukraine.
- How many drones is Ukraine producing each month?
- Ukraine reached tens of thousands of FPV drones per month in early 2026 through the Army of Drones programme under the Ministry of Digital Transformation. Exact figures are not officially published.
- Can electronic warfare stop FPV drones?
- Electronic jamming can disrupt FPV control signals, but drone software is constantly updated to use alternative frequencies or autonomous flight modes. The FPV vs EW arms race is one of the fastest-evolving dynamics in the Ukraine war.
Background
FPV (First-Person View) drones are small, low-cost quadcopters flown by a pilot wearing a video headset, giving a real-time first-person view from the drone's camera. Originally used in drone racing, FPV technology was adapted by both Ukrainian and Russian forces as a kamikaze strike weapon. A single FPV drone costs as little as $400, compared to tens of millions for the missiles it often forces enemy forces to manoeuvre away from. By 2025-26, FPV drones had become the primary cause of armoured vehicle losses and infantry casualties on both sides of the front line.
Ukraine industrialised FPV production under the oversight of the Ministry of Digital Transformation and the Army of Drones programme. Domestic production reached tens of thousands of units per month by early 2026. Russia similarly ramped production, with state programmes and volunteer workshops operating in parallel. The proliferation of FPV drones has fundamentally changed infantry tactics: exposed movement across open ground is near-suicidal within FPV range of the opposing side.
FPV drones are also a jamming battleground. electronic warfare systems that spoof or cut control signals are in constant development on both sides, with each improvement prompting counter-adaptations in drone software and communication protocols. The race between FPV capability and electronic countermeasures is one of the fastest-evolving technology competitions in the war.