A prolonged conflict that escalated from armored clashes to artillery exchanges is now shifting toward a high-stakes drone warfare phase, targeting military installations, industrial sites, economic infrastructure, and civilian areas. Ukrainian forces have deployed a new generation of attack drones, including the Fire Point FP-2—a small, long-range unmanned aircraft capable of carrying over 100 kilograms of explosives—on deep-strike missions into contested regions. Operators prepare these drones under cover of darkness, using stealth lighting and powerful jet-assisted launches to send them hundreds of miles into enemy-held territory. The shift underscores how unmanned systems are reshaping modern warfare, extending reach and precision beyond traditional battlefield tactics.
A conflict that began with tanks and then artillery is now pivoting around a new generation of drones focused on military, industrial, economic and civilian targetsFinally, in the dead of night, the threat above has passed. The rain has eased and the Ukrainian drones are ready, prepared by a ground crew shrouded in hard-to-detect green and red lights. A small succession of Ukrainian Fire Point FP-2 craft, miniature monoplanes with a 6-metre wingspan and more than 100kg of explosive, line up for an attack mission into occupied Luhansk, over 200 miles away.The drone’s main piston engine is a familiar scooter’s buzz, but its launch booster is something else. The jet sound reverberates, almost painfully. A burst of fire lurches into the distance, the last of which signifies it is time for Ukraine’s 413 Raid drone regiment to pack and go.The launch of an FP-2 drone during the mission into occupied Luhansk Continue reading...
