[News Terms] 'FPV Drone' That Changed the Paradigm of Modern Warfare

The Economist Reports "Near-Mythical Status" Performance
Ukraine Produces Thousands of Drones Monthly

'First Person View (FPV) drones' are drones equipped with cameras that transmit video footage to virtual reality (VR) goggles, allowing the operator to feel as if they are sitting in the drone's cockpit and controlling it directly. The name comes from the sensation of piloting the drone as if you were on board while wearing the goggles.

The traditional method of operating drones involved visually tracking the drone flying at a distance and controlling it via remote signals, which limited the line of sight. However, FPV drones overcome this limitation by transmitting real-time video from cameras mounted on the drone to goggles or monitors. Although originally developed for racing sports, the removal of these limitations has led to their evolution into lethal weapons carrying explosives.

A member of Ukraine's Achilles unit is attaching explosives to an FPV drone.
[Photo by Reuters/Yonhap News]

FPV drones have emerged prominently on major battlefields and conflict zones such as the Russia-Ukraine war, being regarded as 'game changer' weapons that have transformed the paradigm of modern warfare.

The British weekly magazine The Economist reported on the 5th (local time) that "FPV drones, which did not exist at the beginning of the war, have now achieved near-mythical status on the front lines," highlighting their performance in the Ukraine battlefield.

It is reported that a typical Ukrainian military team of 12 to 16 members includes about six FPV drone pilots during operations. The drone unit Achilles, active in the fierce battles of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, stated, "With just a few FPV drones costing $300 to $500 each (approximately 400,000 to 660,000 KRW), we destroyed Russian heavy weapons worth millions of dollars."

Armored warfare using tanks and armored vehicles, as well as firepower warfare involving bombardments and missile strikes, inevitably incur astronomical costs and combatant casualties. In contrast, FPV drones offer the advantage of precise strikes and high lethality at just a few hundred dollars.

Having experienced the destructive power of FPV drones on the battlefield, both Ukraine and Russia are reportedly increasing drone production. The Wall Street Journal reported that the Ukrainian government plans to produce one million FPV drones within the year, with temporary drone factories being established by converting unused warehouses and factories, producing thousands of FPV drones monthly.

The drones produced in this way are sent to the front lines, equipped with explosives, and used to attack Russian trenches and armored vehicles. The Washington Post described FPV drones as "nightmarish weapons capable of changing the existing dynamics of war," while The New York Times reported that "FPV drones, used like remote-controlled missiles with explosives attached, have an unparalleled presence."