A bird in the hand: How Ukraine's Sokil drone could improve battlefield reconnaissance
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The Sokil UAV does not require a catapult; it can be launched by hand (Photo: 14th Brigade of the NGU "Chervona Kalyna")
Ukraine codified the Sokil fixed-wing reconnaissance drone in spring 2026, developed to make operational reconnaissance more accessible and widely available.
Over the past six months, the Sokil UAV, manufactured by Ukrainian company Vyriy Industries, has already proven its effectiveness within Ukraine's Defense Forces. It provides units with their own aerial reconnaissance capabilities at operational depth, allowing them to monitor enemy logistics routes, evacuation routes, firing positions and movements, as well as adjust operations.
In early October, the 14th Chervona Kalyna Brigade of Ukraine's National Guard, part of the 1st Azov Corps, demonstrated the capabilities of the hand-launched drone (see video below).
NV examines the capabilities and features of the Sokil UAV in its infographic.
Sokil is a fixed-wing drone designed for reconnaissance and fire adjustment deep behind enemy lines. It was officially codified in March 2026, and in October, the Serhiy Prytula Foundation delivered 190 drones worth 50.8 million hryvnias ($1.2 million) to nine units of Ukraine's Defense Forces.
Among the UAV's advantages are its mobility, thanks to its low weight and lightweight airframe, and its ability to be launched by hand without the need to assemble a catapult. Sokil has a low acoustic signature and operates effectively under active electronic warfare conditions and without GPS.
Sokil can remain airborne for up to three hours and has a range of 195 kilometers on a single charge, giving it significant reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities.
A single drone costs 230,000 hryvnias, while a complete system consisting of three drones and a ground control station, including crew training, costs 1.266 million hryvnias.
Key specifications of the Sokil UAV:
Flight endurance: Up to 3 hours
Flight range: 195 kilometers
Hand-launch capability
Weight: 8 kilograms
Speed: Up to 120 kilometers per hour
Flight altitude: Up to 2.5 kilometers
Communication range: 70 kilometers
Deployment time: Up to 20 minutes
Wingspan: 240 centimeters
Length: 220 centimeters
Height: 17 centimeters
The drone can operate in three control modes: manual, semi-automatic and fully automatic.
Sokil can operate under active electronic warfare conditions and without GPS thanks to two radio beacons. They can operate for more than a week and are interchangeable with those used by other systems.
The drone can be launched by hand in wind speeds of up to 15 meters per second. According to the manufacturer, the system can be deployed in 20 minutes or less. Sokil can operate in temperatures ranging from minus 10 to 40 degrees Celsius.
The UAV is equipped with a daytime 2K camera featuring three-axis stabilization and a 340-degree field of view. Its 10x optical zoom and 3x digital zoom allow it to detect objects such as vehicles from several kilometers away. The drone's airframe is made of fiberglass fabric and carbon fiber sheets.
Since October 2026, the drones have been equipped with an autonomous target-tracking feature.
These UAVs are compatible with Ukrainian military digital systems, including DELTA for situational awareness, VEZHA for battlefield video analysis and Kropyva tactical maps.
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