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Ukraine Is Producing 200 Long-Range Strike Drones a Day—And Says Output Can Triple
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Ukraine’s defense industry is producing roughly 200 long-range strike drones every day, with the capacity to rapidly increase output, according to an interview with the leadership of the Ukrainian company FirePoint.
According to ArmyTV on March 9, FirePoint co-founder and chief designer Denys Shtilerman said the company currently manufactures about 200 deep-strike unmanned aerial vehicles per day and could quickly expand production if required.
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“We can calmly produce about 200 aircraft a day right now. And we can very quickly double or triple these capabilities,” Shtilerman said in the interview cited by ArmyTV.
The drones are designed for strikes against military targets deep inside Russia and form part of a broader effort by Ukraine to expand its long-range strike capabilities.
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According to ArmyTV, FirePoint produces several variants of long-range strike drones, including the FP-1 and FP-2 systems. The FP-1 model carries a warhead weighing more than 100 kilograms and can reach targets at distances of up to 1,000 kilometers.
Shtilerman said the platform is currently undergoing further modernization. Engineers relocated the fuel tank into the wing structure, which allowed the system to carry a heavier payload while maintaining long range.
“FP-1 can now carry a 105 kg warhead over 1000 km,” he explained in comments cited by ArmyTV.
A second platform, the FP-2, is intended primarily for strikes closer to the front line. According to ArmyTV, the drone is designed to hit targets within roughly 200 kilometers of the front and is being upgraded to carry a warhead weighing up to 158 kilograms.
According to ArmyTV, FirePoint’s production network is distributed across more than 50 manufacturing sites throughout Ukraine. The decentralized structure is intended to ensure continuity of production even if some facilities are damaged by Russian strikes.
The company is also developing new guidance systems designed to operate without satellite navigation. According to ArmyTV, engineers are testing a terrain-matching navigation system that compares real-time camera images with stored maps.
“We made map-matching using a cheap night camera. This will allow us to fly without GPS and hit the target accurately,” Shtilerman said, according to ArmyTV.
Developers have reportedly introduced at least seven generations of navigation solutions for these systems since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, reflecting the rapid evolution of drone warfare technologies.
The expansion of Ukraine’s drone production comes as the country increasingly relies on domestically developed unmanned systems to strike Russian military infrastructure. According to ArmyInform, Ukrainian engineers are also working on a new ballistic missile with a range of up to 800 kilometers, highlighting the broader effort to expand long-range strike capabilities.
Earlier, Ukraine’s miltech company FirePoint said it was developing a long-range “deep strike” version of its FP-2 drone capable of carrying a 105-kilogram warhead while significantly extending its range. FirePoint co-owner and chief designer Denys Shtilerman said the effort has already moved from concept to active implementation.
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