Ukraine showcased its new FA v1, a jet-powered canard-delta unmanned aerial vehicle, at the Drone Warfare Summit in Subic Bay, Philippines. The system highlights Kyiv’s focus on autonomous short-range air defense and its growing role in global UAV innovation.
The FA v1 is presented as a compact, twin-tail, jet-powered concept intended for tactical operations near the forward edge of battle. According to summit materials, the UAV can reach speeds over 250 km/h, operate at a nominal range of 30 km, and achieve a service ceiling of 5,000 m, with onboard target detection out to 15 km. A single slim centerline store under the fuselage indicates a focused sensor or light effect role, prioritizing fast-reaction strike or interception tasks over multi-payload missions.
Designed for line-of-sight, short-range missions, the FA v1 favors rapid maneuvering, quick nose-pointing, and minimal exposure rather than endurance or long-range operations. This aligns with Ukraine’s experience in jet-powered expendable drones like the domestically produced “Peklo” and naval UAVs in the Black Sea, where speed, agility, and low signature are critical for operational success.
The canard-delta design supports high-rate pitch maneuvers and energy-maneuverability at low to medium altitude, allowing rapid targeting and engagement of airborne threats or decoy operations. Compared with larger UCAVs or loitering propeller drones, FA v1 offers lower cost, faster production, and suitability for massed attrition-style deployments — reflecting Ukraine’s strategy of saturating contested airspace with small, agile UAVs.
Strategically, presenting FA v1 at Subic Bay positions Ukraine as a contributor to unmanned warfare innovation and signals openness to industrial and doctrinal partnerships. The demonstration also underscores the relevance of short-range jet UAVs for Indo-Pacific forces facing complex littoral and contested airspace challenges.
FA v1’s combination of speed, compact signature, and agile flight control makes it a rapid-deployment option for frontline airspace control, counter-drone missions, or decoy roles — emphasizing time-to-target and survivability over long endurance, consistent with Ukraine’s evolving unmanned operations doctrine.
