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Ukraine Integrates Carrier Drones and Long-Range UAVs to Intensify Deep Strikes in Russia.
As the war becomes increasingly prolonged and technology-driven, Ukraine continues to innovate in its methods of striking Russian assets. Among the latest developments is the use of “mother drones” — large unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) capable of carrying and deploying multiple explosive-equipped FPV drones mid-flight. This tactic, confirmed by footage released in January 2025, allows Ukrainian forces to carry out coordinated strikes up to 40 kilometers behind Russian lines and reflects a broader evolution in Kyiv’s drone warfare strategy. These innovations coincide with a rapid expansion of Ukraine’s domestic arms industry, including the development of long-range drones capable of reaching targets as far as 3,000 kilometers away, potentially transforming the strategic landscape of the conflict.
A fixed-wing carrier drone capable of deploying six FPV drones was recently unveiled in a video released by Ukraine (Picture source: United 24 )
The concept of the mother drone, also described as a flying drone aircraft carrier, is based on a straightforward premise: using a larger UAV to transport smaller, more limited-range drones to the vicinity of their targets. The newly revealed Ukrainian UAV can carry up to six FPV drones mounted under its wings. Once over the operational area, the carrier drone releases its payload, allowing the individual FPV drones to strike enemy assets in a synchronized attack. This approach circumvents the range and vulnerability constraints typically associated with FPV drones, especially in zones saturated with Russian electronic warfare systems.
Such drones can fly at higher altitudes and over longer distances than their smaller counterparts, enhancing their survivability and enabling deep-penetration missions. Ukrainian developers, wary of operational security, have not disclosed the drone’s technical specifications, but visual analysis confirms a significant leap in platform integration and tactical deployment. These aircraft are designed to evade enemy EW and air defense coverage, providing a means to strike high-value assets that had previously been relocated deep behind Russian lines to avoid drone or artillery strikes.
The emergence of these drone carriers aligns with Ukraine’s broader push to extend its deep strike capabilities. On March 17, 2025, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine had successfully tested a new long-range UAV with a 3,000-kilometer reach — the furthest of any drone in its arsenal. Though details remain scarce, defense analysts believe this system features a fixed-wing design with a turbojet engine, drawing comparisons to low-cost cruise missiles. It may represent an evolved form of the Palianytsia drone, previously estimated to range between 500 and 700 kilometers.
This increase in range allows Kyiv to access a wide range of strategic targets well inside Russian territory. Defense analyst Fabian Hoffmann notes that such drones could strike key energy infrastructure sites like the Strezhevsk and Nizhnevartovsk oil refineries, approximately 2,600 kilometers from Ukraine. Additionally, military production sites, such as the JSC Serov Mechanical Plant in Sverdlovsk Oblast — which manufactures 152mm artillery shell casings — are now within reach. This follows earlier limited-range attacks, such as the strike on Olenya air base in Murmansk Oblast, located 1,800 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Ukraine’s new drone systems could improve both the effectiveness and impact of such missions.
The success of these operations will depend on the balance between payload and range. While a 20-kilogram explosive charge can cause considerable damage to unprotected infrastructure like oil refineries, a heavier 100-kilogram warhead would be needed to target fortified military assets. However, increased payload typically reduces range and maneuverability, and it is likely that Ukraine has opted for a scalable configuration suited to different mission profiles.
The adoption of mothership drones and long-range strike systems is supported by a significant boost in Ukraine’s domestic weapons production. According to Strategic Industries Minister Herman Smetanin, cruise missile production increased eightfold in 2024, and long-range drone production doubled — a 22-fold increase compared to 2022. Ukraine developed 324 new types of weapons in 2024 alone and produced $9 billion worth of arms, with a target of $35 billion by the end of 2025. Presidential advisor Oleksandr Kamyshin stated that 30% to 40% of the equipment currently used by Ukrainian forces is domestically manufactured.
This industrial growth not only meets urgent battlefield demands but also reduces Ukraine’s dependency on foreign suppliers and lays the groundwork for a future export-oriented defense sector. The integration of drones into complex strike platforms — including maritime drones equipped to launch FPV drones or missiles — reflects Ukraine’s ability to adapt its systems to evolving battlefield requirements. For instance, maritime drones have been used to deploy FPVs along coastal areas, such as Crimea and Kherson or to launch air-to-air missiles like the R-73 against helicopters and air defense installations.
Meanwhile, the challenge posed to Russian defenses continues to mount. Despite maintaining one of the most extensive air defense networks in the world, Russia faces difficulty in securing its vast territory against this new generation of Ukrainian drones. Attacks on bases such as Engels and on oil infrastructure in Tuapse indicate that Russian air defense assets are already overstretched. According to RAND Europe’s Mattias Eken, the sheer scale of Russian geography forces Moscow to make strategic trade-offs in its defensive posture, potentially leaving critical gaps for Ukraine to exploit.
Ukraine’s strategic use of carrier drones and long-range systems represents a turning point in the conflict, enabling deeper, more frequent, and more complex strikes across Russian territory. This development enhances Ukraine’s ability to challenge Russia’s military-industrial base while reducing human risk through the deployment of unmanned systems. As the war evolves, these capabilities may play an increasingly central role in eroding Russia’s ability to sustain its war effort over the long term.