Ukraine adopts Firefly guided munitions for army drone fleet — Forbes
Journalists highlighted the new series as a major operational force multiplier for Ukraine's fleet of heavy bomber drones (Photo: mod.gov.ua)
Defense Ministry officially approved the domestic Firefly guided drone bomb series for military deployment, marking the entry of a $240 precision-guided munition system into mass production, Forbes reported on July 21.
Journalists highlighted the new series as a major operational force multiplier for Ukraine's fleet of heavy bomber drones.
"This is a powerful new asset for Ukraine's fleet of heavy bomber drones," Forbes wrote.
"It is positioned as an add-on kit suitable for bombs weighing between 2 and 20 pounds (900g to 9kg)."
The publication emphasized that Firefly features a simple, highly cost-effective design that allows domestic manufacturers to rapidly scale production.
"Manufacturers claim they can produce 10,000 units per month and are ready to scale up as needed. Initial video footage of Firefly in action demonstrates the immense potential of this weapon," the report wrote.
Citing developers speaking on condition of anonymity, Forbes added that the Firefly system allows Ukrainian drone operators to conduct high-precision strikes with a margin of error between two and seven feet (60 cm to 2.13 m). The system can drop bombs from significant altitudes ranging from 600 to 1,600 feet (182 to 487 meters), substantially reducing drone exposure to enemy small-arms fire and localized radio-frequency jamming.
"Priced at just $240 (10,500 UAH) per unit with a monthly production capacity of 10,000 units, Firefly is an extraordinarily cost-effective weapon. This innovation highlights Ukraine's rapid development of accessible defense technologies, with future plans pointing toward stand-off guided bombs," publication concluded.
Ministry of Defense specifications
The Ministry of Defense verified that the Firefly system underwent successful combat testing prior to its official approval:
Targeting profile: Designed specifically to strike hardened enemy positions, including fortified dugouts, fortifications, and protected defensive strongpoints.
Compatibility: Tested across primary Ukrainian bomber drone models, demonstrating high combat efficiency and flight accuracy.
Key specifications: Operates at altitudes up to 2,600 feet (800 meters); autonomously calculates and corrects its flight trajectory toward pre-designated targets post-drop; maintains precision accuracy despite heavy enemy electronic warfare (EW) disruption.
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