F-Drones unveils F5, a five-inch FPV strike drone for frontline operations

Ukrainian defence tech company F-Drones has unveiled its new F5 FPV strike drone. It is a compact five-inch quadcopter designed for frontline operations.

The manufacturer says the F5 was developed primarily for assault units. According to the company, the drone is best suited for short-range operations and challenging environments, including tree lines and built-up areas, as well as for supporting positions and assault groups. “Its principle is simple: get it out quickly and hit the target quickly,” F-Drones says.

The drone is built around a lightweight five-inch carbon platform and can carry a payload of up to 1 kg. It is available in two versions: one using a jam-resistant radio link and another using a fibre-optic link.

The fibre-optic version can fly around 6 km. The radio-controlled F5 has twice the tactical range, reaching up to 13 km. “In terms of its role, the F5 is closer to an 82-mm mortar than to a conventional long-range FPV: it is always nearby and ready to get the job done here and now,” F-Drones explains.

The manufacturer emphasises that several F5 drones can fit into a military backpack, while a UGV can deliver up to nine of them to a position at once.

The company also said that, like its other drones, the F5 is equipped with the codified Opera electronic initiation board. The drone itself has already undergone Defence Ministry testing and received codification.