Deadliner Q1 FPV tops May ranking of fibre-optic drones by sortie count. What is the drone and who makes it?

The Deadliner Q1 fibre-optic FPV drone ranked first among fibre-optic FPV platforms by the number of combat sorties flown by the Unmanned Systems Forces in May 2026. This was reported to Defender Media by the developers of the UAV, the Ukrainian company Stellarion. According to military operational reports obtained by the manufacturer, the drone also ranked third among strike systems in its class.

The Deadliner Q1 is a 10-inch fibre-optic FPV drone with a maximum payload capacity of 2 kg. The aircraft can achieve speeds of up to 110 km/h, with a standard cruising speed ranging between 60 and 70 km/h. It’s stated that the flight endurance is at least 20 minutes.

According to the manufacturer, the platform has received highly positive feedback from military operators. Within one military unit, the UAV completed a rigorous cycle of operational tests and combat missions comprising 90 sorties. These included deployments in gusty winds, high humidity, and densely wooded areas. Following these trials, the reported fibre-optic cable breakage rate remained below 10%.

Stellarion notes that it utilises its proprietary fibre-optic winding technology alongside in-house manufacturing facilities. According to the company, this vertically integrated production has enabled it to keep the hardware defect rate below 2%.

The Deadliner Q1 is available for procurement through the state platforms Brave1 Market and DOT-Chain Defence. The drone configuration equipped with a 15 km spool is priced at UAH 50,000, while variants with 20 km and 25 km spools cost UAH 75,000 and UAH 80,000 respectively. The platform can also be acquired via the Army of Drones Bonus programme.

Earlier, Defender Media reported that Stellarion’s Deadliner Q1 would participate in the second phase of the US Drone Dominance programme. The manufacturer also confirmed its intention to showcase its latest technological developments in the United States.