Australian Firm, Sypaq Corvo Supplying 100 'Cardboard Drones' a Month to Ukraine

Australian firm Sypaq Corvo has been churning out 100 Precision Payload Delivery System (PPDS) drones monthly for Ukraine since March 2023.

The PPDS, a brainchild of Sypaq Corvo, offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional military-grade systems, as highlighted by company representative Michael Partridge. Priced at $3,169, these drones significantly undercut their more sophisticated counterparts, which can range from $20,000 to $30,000.

Originally designed for reconnaissance and logistics resupply purposes, Ukrainian forces have ingeniously repurposed the PPDS as a highly effective kamikaze weapon. These seemingly unassuming "cardboard" drones can carry up to three kilograms of explosives and cover distances of up to 120 kilometers. Notably, the company has also unveiled a heavy-lift version capable of transporting six kilograms of payload.

The turning point came in June when photographic evidence surfaced of an Australian-made drone modified for kamikaze missions. Equipped with a MON-50 directional fragmentation anti-personnel mine in its fuselage and a VP-2a radio detonator on the wing, this adaptation demonstrated the drone's lethal potential.

Drones are supplied to Ukraine in the form of flat cardboard sheets, which are then easily assembled into aircraft. These drones serve a multifaceted role, from delivering crucial supplies like ammunition, food, and medicine directly to the front lines, to reconnaissance flights and dropping explosive devices. Depending on the model, they can lift payloads of up to three or five kilograms and sustain flights lasting 1-3 hours, depending on the range.