Top 5 Ukrainian Fixed-Wing Drones: Review of Reconnaissance and Strike UAVs
When artillery strikes a target 30–50 km behind the front line, the coordinates usually come not from a quadcopter but from a "wing" — a fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle. It can't hover over one spot, but it stays airborne for hours, covers hundreds of kilometers and is barely audible from the ground. Strike "wings" go a step further and drop munitions themselves on depots, vehicles and logistics deep behind enemy lines. Ukrainian fixed-wing systems have been in combat since 2014, and today some models fly for 7–10 hours and keep a data link at 180 km and beyond.
Ukraine's Ministry of Defense does not publish an official ranking of fixed-wing drones. So we selected five Ukrainian fixed-wing UAVs of different classes — with the longest combat records, in service or in operation with the Defense Forces of Ukraine, and with openly published specifications: Shark-M, Leleka-100, A1-SM Furia, PD-2 and Punisher. At the end, you'll find two more models worth knowing: Spectator-M1 and Valkyria.
Four of the five drones in our top are fully electric, while the heavy PD-2 cruises on a gasoline engine but takes off vertically on batteries. So for each of them, endurance, range and even whether the aircraft makes it home depend, one way or another, on the battery.
What is a fixed-wing drone and how is it different from a quadcopter?
"Wing" is what soldiers at the front call any fixed-wing UAV. Its lift is created by the wing, while the motor only pushes the aircraft forward. A quadcopter, by contrast, constantly holds itself in the air with its rotors, so it spends many times more energy on flight.
Hence the main advantages of a fixed-wing drone:
Endurance. Not 30–60 minutes, like most reconnaissance quadcopters, but 1.5–7 hours on a single charge.
Reconnaissance depth. A 100–400 km route lets it watch logistics, depots and artillery positions far beyond the front line.
Low signature. The electric motor runs quietly, and the composite airframe gives only a small radar return.
There are limitations too. A fixed-wing drone can't hover over a target, so it circles above it. It needs a hand, catapult or bungee launch, and it lands by parachute or on its belly. Every such cycle carries a risk of damaging the airframe — so the longer a drone flies on one charge, the less often it has to land.
By layout, fixed-wing drones come in two types. The first is the conventional configuration with a fuselage and a tail (like the Leleka-100 with its V-tail). The second is the tailless "flying wing", like the Furia.
1. Shark-M — the record-holder among electric fixed-wing drones
Shark is a reconnaissance system by the Ukrainian company Ukrspecsystems. Work on it began after February 24, 2022, and the drone was unveiled publicly in October of the same year. In January 2025, a major upgrade was released — Shark-M, which is now the flagship of the family.
Shark-M key specifications:
wingspan — 3.4 m, length — 1.65 m;
maximum takeoff weight — 14.5 kg;
endurance — up to 7 hours on a single charge;
route length — up to 420 km;
data link range — up to 180 km (up to 80 km for the baseline Shark-D);
maximum speed — up to 130 km/h;
altitude — up to 3,000 m;
the optics detect targets at up to 35 km by day and up to 14 km at night;
launch — by catapult.
According to the manufacturer, Shark-M's record route was 658 km over more than 6.5 hours of flight. The Shark data link is encrypted with the AES-256 standard, which makes intercepting the video harder. Beyond reconnaissance, the drone can act as a signal relay for strike drones. In early 2026, Ukrspecsystems also launched production in the United Kingdom.
⚡ Power specifics. Shark-M is the best proof that a fixed-wing drone's range is defined by its battery. Its endurance grew from 4 to 7 hours thanks to new batteries with 170% more capacity. At the same time, that battery powers not only the motor for hours on end, but also the gyro-stabilized optics and the upgraded radio modem. On top of that, at 3 km the air is on average about 20 °C colder than at ground level, so the cells must deliver energy steadily even when chilled.
2. Leleka-100 — one of Ukraine's most widely used fixed-wing drones
The Leleka-100 was created by the Dnipro-based company DeViRo, which began its development back in 2014. In 2016, the system was cleared for operation, and by Order of the Minister of Defense No. 114 of May 11, 2021, it was officially adopted into service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The drone became such a symbol of aerial reconnaissance that the National Bank of Ukraine issued a commemorative "Leleka-100" coin.
Key specifications:
wingspan — 1.98 m, length — 1.135 m;
takeoff weight — 5 ± 0.5 kg, composite airframe (glass and carbon fiber);
speed — 60–70 km/h cruise, up to 120 km/h maximum;
guaranteed route length — 100 km;
time aloft — 1.5 to 4 hours depending on configuration;
service ceiling — 1,500 m;
operating temperatures — from −20 to +40 °C, wind resistance — up to 20 m/s;
hand or catapult launch, parachute or belly landing;
DeViRo's own anti-EW system, which automatically detects GPS/GLONASS jamming and spoofing attempts.
Building on the Leleka experience, the Leleka LR was developed and is produced in the Czech Republic. It has a 3 m wingspan, an 8.7 kg takeoff weight, a radius of up to 90 km and up to 4 hours of flight.
⚡ Power specifics. The Leleka runs on a 6-cell (6S) battery. In public procurement, 6S7P packs with a capacity of at least 35,000 mAh are typically ordered for it. A hand launch requires a short current peak for the climb, after which the motor runs for hours at a steady, moderate load. That is why, for the Leleka, what matters most is capacity at minimum weight. For this aircraft, PAWELL produces a 40,000 mAh Solid-State battery, which we covered in detail in our article on the Leleka-100.
3. A1-SM Furia — a veteran in combat since 2014
The Furia was developed by the Kyiv-based company Athlon Avia. The Armed Forces of Ukraine have operated this system since 2014, and in 2016 the company presented an extensively upgraded version designated A1-SM. One system includes three aircraft, day and night optical modules, a ground control station and an antenna unit.
Specifications:
layout — a "flying wing" made of composites (fiberglass, carbon, Kevlar);
wingspan — about 2 m, length — 0.9 m;
takeoff weight — 5.5 kg (6 kg for the updated version);
speed — 65 km/h cruise, up to 130 km/h maximum;
operational radius — at least 50 km, route — up to 200 km;
service ceiling — 2,500 m, wind resistance — up to 15 m/s;
catapult launch, standard parachute landing;
power — Li-Po / Li-ion batteries with a capacity of up to 42,000 mAh.
⚡ Power specifics. The Furia's story is telling: the key change in the system's third update was new, higher-capacity batteries. Thanks to them, the reconnaissance drone now stays airborne for up to 4 hours instead of about 3. The manufacturer also states a battery swap time of 1–2 minutes, and the standard landing is by parachute. This means the battery has to withstand frequent reconnections and landing impacts without damage to the cells or connectors.
4. PD-2 — a heavy multi-role hybrid
The PD-2 is the largest drone in our top, also made by Ukrspecsystems. Testing of the system was completed at the end of 2021, and by 2022 it was already in serial production for the front. In May 2022, Ukraine's IT community raised UAH 30 million in 24 hours for a PD-2 system through the Come Back Alive foundation.
The PD-2's main feature is modularity. Without tools, in about 15 minutes, it can be converted from a conventional airplane into a VTOL — a drone with vertical takeoff and landing. The platform carries various modules: USG-400 gyro-stabilized optics, a Gekata signals intelligence pod, cargo of up to 8 kg or pods with small-caliber munitions.
Specifications (manufacturer's data):
wingspan — 5 m, maximum takeoff weight — 55 kg;
engine — 4-stroke gasoline;
endurance — over 8 hours (up to 10 hours in some publications, depending on configuration);
payload — 7 kg standard, up to 11 kg maximum;
speed — 100 km/h cruise, up to 140 km/h maximum;
service ceiling — up to 4,700 m;
encrypted data link — over 180 km;
maximum route length — up to 1,100 km;
protection against GNSS jamming and spoofing.
⚡ Power specifics. Although the PD-2 cruises on gasoline, in the VTOL configuration its takeoff and landing motors run on batteries. Lifting a 55-kilogram aircraft vertically means a short but very powerful current peak, so these batteries must be high-discharge. In flight, they are automatically recharged by a 300 W onboard generator and warmed by a heating system, so the batteries don't fail during landing in freezing weather.
5. Punisher — a strike "wing" for precision hits behind enemy lines
Punisher is a reusable strike and reconnaissance drone by UA Dynamics. It was created by a team of veterans with experience in special operations behind enemy lines. Development has been under way since 2016, and in February 2022 the drone was shown in combat.
Punisher works in tandem with the Spectre reconnaissance drone: Spectre finds the target, and Punisher approaches unnoticed and drops bombs on it. The drone is almost inaudible and can attack up to three different targets in a single sortie. The system includes reconnaissance and strike drones, batteries, a catapult and a ground control station.
Specifications:
combat radius — up to 45 km (according to the company's CEO, up to 60 km in some cases);
takeoff weight with a full combat load — 7.5 kg;
combat payload — about 2 kg;
speed — 70–80 km/h cruise, up to 198 km/h maximum (manufacturer's data);
effective strike altitude — up to 400 m;
launch — by catapult, including vehicle-mounted.
⚡ Power specifics. A strike "wing" lives in a stop-and-go mode: a sharp catapult launch, high-speed dashes and a sudden loss of weight after the bombs are released. Each of these moments is a current spike, so the battery must hold its voltage under peaks, not just in steady cruise. And since Punisher is reusable, battery cycle life matters too.
Two more fixed-wing drones worth knowing
Spectator-M1 (Meridian named after S. P. Korolyov)
A reconnaissance drone from a Ukroboronprom enterprise, developed together with scientists from Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (KPI). The first Spectator systems were supplied to the Ministry of Defense and the State Border Guard Service from 2015, and the upgraded M1 version was adopted into service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine in June 2019. Wingspan — 3.02 m, flight altitude — up to 3,600 m, endurance — over 2 hours, range — up to 150 km, hand launch. During the upgrade, the drone was made lighter specifically so it could stay in the air longer — a clear example of how every extra gram "eats" minutes of flight.
Valkyria / Galka (Combat Birds of Ukraine)
The Valkyria (VALK-1 UAS) was built from 2015 by volunteers of the Army SOS foundation, and since 2022 it has been serially produced by the company Combat Birds of Ukraine — about 120 aircraft per month in 2023. The system is cleared for operation in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and is also used by the State Border Guard Service. The upgraded Galka weighs 3.7 kg, flies for up to 150 minutes within a 45 km radius, launches with a bungee and runs on Li-ion batteries of up to 30,000 mAh. The baseline Valkyria is 0.2 kg lighter but flies about half an hour less and 10 km shorter.
Why the battery decides everything for a fixed-wing drone
Two of the most recent examples from our top speak for themselves. Shark-M gained 3 extra hours of flight thanks to batteries with 170% more capacity. After its battery upgrade, the Furia flies for up to 4 hours instead of about 3. In both cases, the manufacturers didn't change the wing — they changed the energy source.
But battery requirements for a fixed-wing drone differ from those for a heavy bomber quadcopter:
Energy per kilogram (Wh/kg) matters more than current. After takeoff, a fixed-wing drone's motor runs at a steady, moderate load. So what counts is not peak discharge current, but how much energy fits into every gram of the battery.
A short peak mode at takeoff. A hand, bungee or catapult launch and the climb mean a few seconds at full throttle. The battery must deliver this peak without voltage sag, or the drone will "nose-dive" right after launch.
Cold at altitude. At typical operating altitudes of 1–3 km, the temperature drops on average by 6.5 °C for every kilometer compared with ground level. Over several hours of flight, the cells cool down and their output falls.
Dimensions and center of gravity. The battery is the heaviest component in the fuselage. A pack of a different shape or weight shifts the center of gravity, and the aircraft holds its flight worse or even loses stability.
Mechanical strength. Parachute or belly landings mean impacts and vibration after every sortie. The pack and connectors must withstand this hundreds of times.
A special case — hybrids and strike drones. On the PD-2, the batteries are responsible for the riskiest minutes of flight — vertical takeoff and landing — so they need high discharge capability and heating. The Punisher strike drone experiences sharp load spikes from the catapult launch, dashes and bomb release. For such aircraft, the battery must be both energy-dense and resistant to peak currents.
An important nuance: simply installing a higher-capacity battery is not always the answer. A heavier pack increases takeoff weight and changes the center of gravity and stall speed. The right task is this: maximum energy within the allowable weight and dimensions of a specific aircraft.
PAWELL batteries for fixed-wing UAVs
PAWELL manufactures batteries for drones and UAVs in Ukraine. Our catalog has a dedicated section for fixed-wing UAVs.
✓ Solid-state cells. Solid-State battery packs offer high energy density and operate at temperatures down to −20 °C. That's exactly what a fixed-wing drone flying at altitude for hours needs.
✓ Custom batteries for your aircraft. PAWELL engineers design a battery for a specific aircraft — with the required voltage, capacity, bay dimensions, connector and weight, so as not to upset the center of gravity.
✓ Serial batches. We manufacture these batteries in large batches with identical specifications from the first unit to the last. This matters for UAV manufacturers, foundations and military units that need a stable, repeatable configuration. Learn more on our B2B solutions page.
Where Ukrainian fixed-wing drones are heading
Longer in the air — thanks to batteries. The Furia and Shark-M increased their endurance primarily with new batteries. The industry's next step is cells with even higher energy density, including solid-state.
The "wing" doesn't just watch — it strikes. Punisher has shown that a reusable fixed-wing strike drone can slip 45 km deep unnoticed and come back. The PD-2 can likewise carry pods with small-caliber munitions.
Deeper reconnaissance and the relay role. Shark-M's data link range has grown to 180 km, and the drone itself can relay the signal for strike UAVs. Fixed-wing drones are increasingly becoming communication nodes, not just "eyes".
Production abroad as a backup. The Leleka LR is produced in the Czech Republic, and in 2026 Ukrspecsystems opened production in the United Kingdom. This way, manufacturers protect output from strikes on Ukrainian plants.
Each of the five drones has its own niche: from the 5-kilogram Leleka to the 55-kilogram PD-2 and the Punisher strike drone. But for all of them, range, time aloft and the chance of returning to base come down to one thing — the energy on board. Today, a high-quality battery for a fixed-wing drone is as important as its optics or a secure data link.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
1. How is a fixed-wing drone different from a quadcopter?
A fixed-wing drone stays in the air thanks to the lift of its wing, while the motor only pulls it forward. That's why it flies many times longer and farther than a quadcopter — 1.5 to 7 hours on battery, and hybrids like the PD-2 even longer. On the other hand, a fixed-wing drone can't hover over one spot and needs a hand, bungee or catapult launch.
2. Which Ukrainian fixed-wing drone flies the longest?
In our top, the PD-2 stays airborne the longest — over 8 hours — but it cruises on a gasoline engine. Among fully electric fixed-wing drones, the leader is Shark-M by Ukrspecsystems: up to 7 hours on a single charge and a route of up to 420 km, with a record flight of 658 km according to the manufacturer.
3. Which battery does the Leleka-100 need?
The Leleka-100 runs on a 6-cell (6S) battery. In public procurement, 6S7P packs with a capacity of 35,000 mAh or more are ordered for it. PAWELL offers a 40,000 mAh Solid-State battery for this aircraft — read more in our article on the Leleka-100.
4. Why are reconnaissance fixed-wing drones mostly electric?
An electric motor is almost inaudible from the ground, it's easy to maintain, and a depleted battery can be swapped in minutes. For tactical reconnaissance and precision strikes lasting 1.5–7 hours, that's enough. Internal combustion engines are usually installed on heavier, longer-range platforms such as the PD-2 — but even there, vertical takeoff and landing run on batteries.
5. Can you increase flight time simply by installing a higher-capacity battery?
Not always. A heavier battery increases takeoff weight and shifts the center of gravity, so part of the gain is "eaten up" and handling gets worse. A real improvement comes from a battery with higher energy density (Wh/kg) at the same weight and shape as the standard one.
6. Does PAWELL make batteries for non-standard fixed-wing drones and prototypes?
Yes. We design batteries for a specific aircraft — by voltage, capacity, bay dimensions, connector and weight — and manufacture them in serial batches. Learn more on our B2B solutions page.
Need a battery for a reconnaissance or strike fixed-wing drone?
If you manufacture or operate the Leleka, Furia, Shark, Punisher or your own fixed-wing drone and want longer flight time without extra weight, contact the PAWELL engineers. We'll select or design a battery to match the weight, dimensions and connector of your specific aircraft.
