Ukraine Launches Serial Production of ‘Stealthy’ Kamikaze Drone

Ukraine has begun the serial production of an indigenous loitering munition intended to strike Russian forces.

First Contact’s Vidsich kamikaze drone features a warhead of 2 to 3 kilograms (4.4 to 6.6 pounds) and a range of 40 kilometers (25 miles).

It flies up to 100 kilometers (62 miles) per hour at a maximum altitude of 2 kilometers (1.24 miles).

The remotely-piloted platform’s flight route can be programmed and is ready to operate in 15 minutes.

Stealthy and Silent 

It features a stealthy design and is nearly silent in flight, the Ukrainian government’s Army of Drones initiative explained in a Telegram post.

Vidsich has already been tested in combat conditions and is intended to operate in tandem with reconnaissance drones.

Army of Drones

Both Ukraine and Russia have deployed thousands of drones against each other in the ongoing war, including reconnaissance and attack ones.

To ramp up domestic drone production, Kyiv launched the “Army of Drones” program in July, including systematic procurement, maintenance, and operator training.

The country’s digital minister Mykhailo Fedorov said in September that about 1,700 drones from the program have been deployed on the front line, including in reconnaissance and attack roles.

Over 3,000 Ukrainian service personnel have been trained under the program.

Fedorov said that the unmanned attack platforms destroyed or damaged 200 Russian targets in just a week in September, including tanks, armored vehicles, and military trucks.