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Ukraine’s FP-1 Suicide Drone, With 1,600-Km Range, Already Striking Deep Inside Russia

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Photo of Vlad Litnarovych
Vlad Litnarovych
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Ukraine’s FP-1 Suicide Drone, With 1,600-Km Range, Already Striking Deep Inside Russia
Recently unveiled FP-1 long-range suicide drone during a presentation on May 7, 2025, in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Source: Mezha Media)

Ukraine’s FP-1 suicide drone has already been widely used in strikes on military and infrastructure targets inside Russia, according to Ukrainian defense outlet Militarnyi on May 8, despite only being publicly unveiled a few days ago.

Wreckage from the FP-1 has been found across several Russian regions—including Saratov, Moscow, Voronezh, Kaluga, and Tula—just in the month of March alone, Russian outlets reported.

The drone is believed to have been used in strikes throughout Russia since at least early 2024.

A prototype of a Ukrainian FP-1 drone at an international defense expo in 2023. (Source: Spetstechnoexport)
A prototype of a Ukrainian FP-1 drone at an international defense expo in 2023. (Source: Spetstechnoexport)

One of the most notable attacks attributed to the FP-1 took place in August 2024, when Ukraine reportedly targeted the Russian Marinovka airbase. The strike destroyed at least one Su-34 fighter bomber and damaged several others.

The drone’s existence was first hinted at in September 2023, when Ukraine’s state arms exporter Spetstechnoexport showcased a prototype at an international defense expo. Public interest, however, surged after a full video report earlier this year highlighted the drone’s range and capabilities.

According to that presentation, the FP-1 has a combat range of approximately 700 kilometers and carries a warhead weighing around 50 kilograms. However, later estimates suggest the warhead could weigh as much as 60 kilograms, depending on the explosive configuration used.

In a March Telegram post, the Russian channel Shot claimed the FP-1 was equipped with an OFB-60-UYa warhead, containing a KZ-6 charge and blocks of TNT.

The drone’s operational range can vary significantly depending on the payload weight. During the official demo, developers claimed a maximum range of up to 1,600 kilometers, though they did not specify the weight configuration used to achieve that distance.

“This drone was made in Ukraine and was very quickly scaled up. It’s something we can share with our partners,” said Anna Hvozdiar, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister for Strategic Industries, during the drone’s presentation.

Her statement corroborates earlier assessments by analysts, indicating that the FP-1 is already in full-scale serial production and has begun to attract interest from Ukraine’s international partners.

Its long-range capability, modular design, and destructive potential make it one of the most significant additions to Ukraine’s growing arsenal of domestically-produced unmanned systems.

Earlier, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov confirmed that two Russian Su-30SM fighter jets were shot down over the Black Sea using AIM-9 air-to-air missiles launched from Magura-class unmanned surface vessels.

The strike marks the first documented instance of a sea drone downing manned fighter aircraft with such weaponry.

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