Encyclopaedic reference on drone categories employed in Ukraine. Public doctrinal information only: DoD Group 1-5 categories, employment classes (ISR, strike, loitering, OWA, FPV), variants, distribution. No operational, piloting, route programming or construction instruction.
Role
Drones have become the dominant battlefield vector in Ukraine, reshaping every prior manoeuvre doctrine. They are distinguished by weight, operating altitude, endurance and role (ISR — Intelligence/Surveillance/Reconnaissance, strike, loitering munition, OWA — One-Way Attack, FPV kamikaze, ground UGVs). The drone-artillery-infantry integration (kill chain) is the principal firepower multiplier on both fronts.
DoD categories (Group 1-5)
- Group 1: weight <9 kg, altitude <366 m AGL, speed <100 KIAS — Mavic, FPV, Skydio, Quantum-Vector
- Group 2: 9-25 kg, <1067 m AGL — Penguin, Shark, RQ-11 Raven, Phoenix Ghost
- Group 3: 25-600 kg, <5500 m MSL — Bayraktar TB2, Shahed-136, ZALA Lancet, Switchblade 600
- Group 4: 600-1300 kg, high altitude — Bayraktar Akinci, MQ-1C Gray Eagle, Heron, Reaper Block 1
- Group 5: >1300 kg, high altitude / SHORAD-immune — MQ-9 Reaper, RQ-4 Global Hawk, RQ-180
- DoD category based on weight, altitude and speed; does not describe role (ISR vs strike)
Functional roles
- ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance): observation, fire correction, BDA
- Strike: release of drop munitions (modified Mavic 30mm/40mm), anti-tank missiles (TB2 MAM-L)
- Loitering munition: orbiting self-guided munition (Lancet, Switchblade, HERO)
- OWA (One-Way Attack): single-use long-range drone (Shahed-136, Geran-2)
- FPV kamikaze: racing platform piloted via video link, C4/RPG-7 payload
- UGV: ground, logistics, casualty evacuation, C-UAS, engineer roles
Main systems
| Category | Weight / Altitude | Role | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 (Mavic, FPV) | <9 kg, <366 m, <100 KIAS | ISR / strike | DJI Mavic 3, Autel, FPV racing modificati. Pilotabili manualmente, raggio 5-15 km. |
| Group 2 (Penguin, Shark) | 9-25 kg, <1067 m | ISR tattico | ISR di plotone/compagnia, autonomia 2-4 h, lancio a mano o catapulta. |
| Group 3 (Shahed-136, Bayraktar TB2) | 25-600 kg, <5500 m | ISR / strike / OWA | Shahed-136 Geran-2 OWA, Bayraktar TB2 ISR/strike, ZALA Lancet loitering. |
| Group 4 (MQ-1C Gray Eagle, Akinci) | 600-1300 kg, alto | ISR / strike | Bayraktar Akinci, MQ-1C, Heron — autonomia >24 h, armi guidate. |
| Group 5 (MQ-9 Reaper, RQ-4) | >1300 kg, alto / SHORAD-immune | ISR strategico / strike | MQ-9, RQ-4 Global Hawk — ricognizione strategica, payload pesante. |
| FPV kamikaze | <3 kg, 5-15 km | Strike monouso | FPV racing modificato con carica RPG-7 o C4 — sciame ucraino/russo. |
| Loitering munition (Switchblade) | 300/600 USA — Lancet 51 RUS | Strike di precisione | Munizione orbitante, video link, autodirezione finale. Switchblade 300/600, Lancet-3/51. |
| VTOL / Quadcopter ISR | 1-15 kg, multi-rotore | ISR di squadra/plotone | Mavic 3 Pro/Enterprise, Autel EVO II/Max, ricognizione e correzione tiro. |
| UGV (terrestre) | Pesante o leggero | Logistica / strike | Lyut, Themis, Ratel-S, MRSS — supporto logistico, evacuazione, ruoli C-UAS. |
FPV vs commercial
FPV (First-Person View) drones are racing/cinematic three- or four-motor vehicles piloted via 5.8 GHz analogue or digital video link (DJI O3), with VR goggles on the operator. Modified with an explosive platform (RPG-7 PG-7V, 30/40 mm grenades, C4) they become single-use precision munitions at $300-600 unit cost. Commercial drones (DJI Mavic 3, Autel EVO II) are ISR platforms piloted with traditional stick: high-quality cameras, geolocation, modifiable payload for grenade release. Swarms of FPV against single targets are one of the distinguishing traits of the Ukrainian front.
Distribution in Ukraine
Both fronts produce and employ drones massively. Ukraine produces FPVs domestically (DroneFighters, Vyriy, Skif), Punisher, Shark, Bober/Beaver OWA, and fields Bayraktar TB2 (in decline after initial SAM losses), Switchblade, Phoenix Ghost. Russia fields Orlan-10/30/50 ISR, Lancet/ZALA Kub loitering, Shahed-136/Geran-2 OWA, swarmed FPVs. Combined monthly production exceeds 200,000 FPV drones. Integration with artillery, visual recon and fire correction is a standard battalion-level component.
Advantages (doctrinal)
- Unit cost radically lower than guided missile ($300-600 vs €50-200k)
- Persistent ISR down to squad/platoon level
- Precision strike capability without personnel exposure
- Swarm allows saturation of traditional defences
- Rapid local production without complex supply chain dependency
- Long-range OWA (Shahed-136) enables strategic attack at minimal cost
Limits (doctrinal)
- Vulnerable to EW (GPS jamming, video-link jamming, spoofing)
- Signal-dependent: under total jamming FPV loses control, ISR loses feed
- Limited payload (sub-kg for FPV, kg for Mavic) — not a substitute for heavy artillery
- Short endurance (15-45 min for FPV, 4-8 h for ISR)
- Weather (wind, rain, freezing) limits light drones
- Controlled category (DJI exports from China) — politically exposed supply chain
Manual limits
This entry is encyclopaedic. It does not describe piloting procedures, route programming, payload mounting, strike integration, FPV building or video-link configuration. Those skills require certified drone operator training.