Ukraine Boosts Long-Range Drone Capabilities with New Models
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Ukraine Boosts Long-Range Drone Capabilities with New Models
- Ukraine is rapidly increasing its long-range drone capabilities, with models like the Mammoth now able to fly 1,500 miles, and a projected range of 3,000 miles by next year.
- Oleg Krot, CEO of Culver Aerospace, a key manufacturer, stated that Ukrainian defense-technology companies are significantly enhancing the range, speed, and payload of these drones.
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Kyiv is significantly expanding its aerial arsenal, moving beyond its previous reliance on older Western weaponry to develop and produce advanced long-range drones. This strategic shift is enabling Ukraine to strike deeper into Russian territory.
One notable example is the Mammoth drone, which currently boasts a range of 1,500 miles. Oleg Krot, CEO and founder of Culver Aerospace, the company behind the Mammoth, anticipates that its range will double to 3,000 miles by next year. In a Ukrainian warehouse, approximately 600 of these armed, delta-winged drones were awaiting deployment by the military as of early September 2026.
This advancement is part of a broader trend where Ukrainian defense-technology companies are rapidly enhancing the capabilities of long-distance drones, including their range, speed, and payload capacity. This development allows Ukraine to reach more targets within Russia and retaliate against its invaders. Krot emphasized that Ukraine’s current weapons are “only at the beginning of the real capabilities they will have over the next few years.”
The speed of Ukraine’s transition from seeking older Western weapons to manufacturing cutting-edge military technology is a significant development, particularly as Russia maintains an advantage in manpower. This drone innovation has contributed to recent territorial gains, with Ukraine retaking 78 square miles over five days in February 2026, and continuing to make gains in its fifth spring offensive. The expanded strike range of Ukrainian drones, now capable of reaching 30 to 100 kilometers behind front lines, has forced Russia to reallocate resources to protect its supply lines and infrastructure.
Culver Aerospace has also developed other successful long-range drones, such as the Sichen, which has targeted oil refineries near St. Petersburg and Moscow. Additionally, in May 2026, Culver Aerospace, in collaboration with GLEFA, unveiled the “Behemoth,” a new medium-range strike drone with a range of up to 300 kilometers and a 75-kilogram warhead, which has already seen combat use. These drones are designed to fly at low altitudes to evade detection and can operate autonomously or in FPV mode using Starlink for communication. Ukraine’s drone production has expanded significantly, from approximately seven manufacturers before 2022 to around 500, with an expected production of about 4.5 million FPV drones in 2026.