Brave1 is finalizing Ukrainian kamikaze drones with a range of 40 km, resistant to Russian jamming, to support tactical and logistical strikes.
In summary
The Ukrainian platform Brave1 has validated a series of long-range kamikaze drones capable of striking at a range of over 40 kilometers while resisting Russian electronic jamming. Designed with the direct participation of field units, these inexpensive and easily produced systems are intended to complement artillery and missiles, reducing risks to soldiers. They are expected to enter service quickly, with real-world testing announced for the fall. These drones are part of Ukraine’s military innovation strategy, which seeks to offset Russia’s material advantage with flexible and replicable technological solutions.
The development of kamikaze drones by Brave1
The Brave1 platform, created in 2023, centralizes innovation efforts in the field of drones and weapons. It brings together the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, digital agencies, and a network of specialized startups. Its mission is to accelerate the commissioning of prototypes by reducing design cycles and integrating operational feedback at an early stage. The new kamikaze drones tested this summer have a range of over 40 km, compared to an average of 10 to 20 km for the FPV models currently in widespread use. This extension changes the scale of possible strikes: targets are no longer limited to trenches or vehicles near the front line, but now include logistics depots, radars, and command systems located behind the lines.
The appeal also lies in the cost: Brave1 emphasizes “inexpensive and reproducible” solutions. In a context where artillery and missiles consume costly resources, the introduction of inexpensive drones makes it possible to increase the volume of strikes available. Some Ukrainian FPV drone models are estimated to cost less than €3,000, compared to tens of thousands for a guided missile. Even though long-range drones are more expensive, their cost remains well below that of a conventional weapons system.
Adapting to Russian electronic warfare
Russia makes extensive use of jammers and electronic warfare systems to neutralize drones. This has forced Ukrainian engineers to strengthen resistance to jamming. The new kamikaze drones are designed to maintain a reliable trajectory despite electromagnetic interference. Several approaches are used: directional antennas, backup inertial guidance, or pre-programmed trajectories. These solutions do not guarantee immunity, but they do increase the probability of success.
Operators point out that a drone capable of striking at 40 or 50 km forces the adversary to deploy its jammers deeper and disperse its resources. In practice, this creates an operational cost for Russian forces, which must protect not only the front line but also the rear logistics areas. In a conflict where drones have become one of the main means of action, every innovation in jamming resistance changes the tactical balance.
Complementarity with artillery and missiles
Ukraine has made extensive use of Western artillery and its stockpiles of guided missiles to contain Russian forces. But the wear and tear on the tubes, the scarcity of shells, and the dependence on external deliveries limit this approach. Kamikaze drones offer an alternative. They enable precise strikes on specific targets without consuming heavy ammunition. For example, neutralizing a radar with a drone costing a few thousand euros is much cheaper than using an anti-radar missile.
The concept is based on saturation: sending multiple drones to overwhelm defenses. Even if some are neutralized, the overall cost remains lower than using missiles. In the case of coordinated strikes, drones can also be used to flush out Russian radars, paving the way for more expensive missile strikes. This reveals a logic of prioritization of resources: inexpensive drones to saturate and wear down the enemy, artillery to hold the lines, and missiles for high-value targets.
Industrial and strategic implications
Brave1’s development of drones also responds to an industrial requirement. Sanctions and dependence on imports make it necessary to set up local production. The stated objective is to create manufacturing lines capable of mass-producing durable and adaptable drones. This helps to limit dependence on foreign partners, whose deliveries remain uncertain depending on political cycles.
From a strategic point of view, these long-range drones strengthen Ukraine’s ability to disrupt Russian organization. Striking ammunition depots, command posts, or radar sites 40 km from the front line forces Moscow to move its logistics centers further back, thus lengthening supply chains. In a war of attrition, where every loss of time and fuel has a cumulative effect, this constraint becomes critical.
The consequences on the battlefield
The introduction of these drones is likely to change the tactics of both sides. For Ukraine, it opens up the possibility of carrying out daily strikes on the immediate rear of Russian troops, without waiting for the rare use of long-range missiles. It can also support local offensives by quickly neutralizing enemy defenses.
For Russia, the emergence of drones with greater endurance and resistance to jamming requires an adjustment. It will be necessary to increase the number of layers of defense, from portable jammers to long-range surface-to-air systems. This puts additional pressure on an arsenal already strained by long-range Western strikes. The effect sought by Kyiv is clear: to stretch and wear down Russian defenses by imposing a constant dilemma between protecting the front and covering the rear.
Finally, the psychological aspect should not be overlooked. Russian units stationed 40 or 50 km from the front line, previously considered relatively safe, are now vulnerable. This affects the perception of security and increases operational fatigue.
War Wings Daily is an independant magazine.