The Ukrainian long-range drone FP-1 is entering mass production at a rate of approximately 3,000 units per month. This is comparable to the production volumes of the Russian Shahed-136Yu, but the cost of the FP-1 is significantly lower.
The Ukrainian long-range drone FP-1 is entering mass production at a rate of approximately 3,000 units per month. This is comparable to the production volumes of the Russian Shahed-136Yu, but the cost of the FP-1 is significantly lower.
According to Defense Express, Fire Point, which introduced the FP-1 only in May 2025, is currently producing about 100 drones per day. One device costs $55,000, while the cost of the Iranian Shahed in 2023 was estimated at about $193,000 per unit.
According to the GUR of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the current production rate of Shahed-136 in Russia is also approximately hundreds of units per day. Thus, the Ukrainian FP-1 has reached the level of mass production, but thanks to other technological approaches it is much cheaper.
The key to making it cheaper is using plywood as the structural support. The drone’s components are cut out on CNC laser machines and connected with mortises and ties. This allows the body to be made quickly and cheaply, which is critical for a disposable kamikaze drone.
The Shahed-136, on the other hand, uses more expensive technologies: carbon materials, autoclave baking, and complex spars with ribs.
The engine also plays an important role. The Russian Shahed has a larger four-cylinder engine, while the FP-1 is equipped with a two-cylinder, simpler and cheaper one. This further reduces the overall cost of the product.
Choosing cheaper materials does not affect effectiveness: the drone is designed as a disposable weapon, so it does not need durability. At the same time, the speed of production makes it possible to compensate for losses and maintain the intensity of strikes.
In a broader context, Ukraine is already building a whole line of long-range UAVs. In addition to the FP-1, Fire Point is also producing the FP-5 Flamingo cruise missile, which has also been featured in international media. This highlights that the Ukrainian defense industry is quickly adapting to the demands of war and developing mass-produced solutions that can compete with Russian mass production.
As a reminder, dev.ua also published an article about how the Ukrainian company Defender Dynamics created a line of «Photon» drones capable of intercepting and hitting enemy targets in fully automatic mode. The UAVs have already passed flight and shooting tests and are being prepared for transfer to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
