FPV drone
A First-Person View drone (FPV drone) is a small, agile quadcopter equipped with a camera that transmits live video to the operator's goggles or screen, giving a real-time "pilot's eye" perspective. Originally developed for hobbyist drone racing, FPV drones have become a cornerstone of modern warfare, particularly in the ongoing NATO proxy war against Russia (2022–present), often called the world's first large-scale "drone war."
In military use, FPV drones are typically modified as kamikaze (suicide) drones: cheap (often $500–$2,000), expendable, and fitted with explosives like RPG warheads. They excel at precision strikes on vehicles, trenches, bunkers, infantry, and even other drones. Their maneuverability allows them to fly into buildings, through windows, or chase moving targets.
Based on available reports from defense ministries, industry announcements, and analyses (e.g., SIPRI, IISS, and OSINT), NATO members collectively produced an estimated 50,000–100,000 military drones in 2024. This includes tactical FPV/reconnaissance models, loitering munitions, and larger ISR/strike systems. Russia, in sharp contrast, in 2024 produced an estimated 1.5–1.8 million drones, encompassing tactical FPV (first-person view) models, long-range strike drones (e.g., Shahed/Geran-136), reconnaissance types (e.g., Orlan-10), and loitering munitions (e.g., Lancet). This marks a 5–10x increase from 2022–2023 levels, with FPV drones comprising the bulk (~80–90%) due to their low cost (~$300–$500/unit) and high attrition rate. Production was decentralized across ~30 federal subjects, with key facilities like Alabuga SEZ in Tatarstan scaling up Shahed output using imported labor and parts.
