Ukrainian Military to Receive 5,000 Kamikaze Drones; Develops New ‘Backfire Drone’

The Ukrainian military is set to receive a second batch of 5,000 kamikaze drones from the Come Back Alive Foundation in a joint initiative with the United24 fundraising platform and Monobank, as part of the Operation Unity project.

This procurement follows an earlier purchase of 5,000 FPV drones, bringing the total to 10,000 drones for the Ukrainian military. The fundraising campaign, driven by active Ukrainians, managed to raise over UAH 235,000,000 in just three days in August 2023. The funds were subsequently utilized to reinforce the combat capabilities of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

Each of the acquired drones is equipped with a Ukrainian-made High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) and high-explosive incendiary warhead. The first batch of 5,000 kamikaze drones was received by the Come Back Alive Foundation in October and has already been deployed to Ukrainian defenders along various fronts.

The models of FPV drones and their ammunition received approval from the Ukrainian military. The drones were manufactured by a foreign company specializing in drone production, while the warheads are produced by a Ukrainian company, selected after the Foundation's analysis of various proposals.

FPV drones, characterized by their first-person view control through special goggles, have become integral in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The operator experiences real-time video feed from the drone's camera, allowing for precise control and monitoring.

In a broader context, Ukrainian servicemen currently utilize approximately 70 different drone models for various purposes, supported by over 20 types of ammunition.

“Today, the Armed Forces of Ukraine operate about 70 modifications of unmanned aerial vehicles and more than 20 different types of ammunition for UAVs,” the Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Ivan Havryliuk, told ArmiyaInform.

Moreover, Ukraine's defense industry has ventured into mass production of attack drones similar to Iran’s Shahed-136. Dozens of kamikaze drones are being produced monthly, with Ukroboronprom contributing to the production of FPV drones to meet the needs of the Ukrainian army.

Among the innovative developments is the Backfire strike drone, successfully completing at least 50 missions. Mykhailo Fedorov, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine for Innovation, Education, Science, and Technology, stated that the Backfire drone ranges up to 35 kilometers behind enemy lines, effectively targeting Russian artillery, logistics hubs, depots, and command posts.

The Backfire drone features a resilient GPS antenna, making it resistant to electronic warfare systems. Additionally, Ukraine has undisclosed specifications for a powerful new warhead designed for drones, successfully tested in trials that demonstrated its ability to destroy multiple armor plates.