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Ukraine Reportedly Deploys AI Drone Motherships in First Autonomous Combat Strikes on Russia
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Ukrainian startup Strategy Force Solutions says it has successfully completed the first real-world combat missions using autonomous drone motherships paired with AI-guided attack drones. The test, reportedly targeting Russian military positions, was revealed by Forbes on May 26.
“A $10,000 mission replaces what previously required $3–$5 million missile systems,” said Andrii, the company’s chief technology officer, who asked to withhold his surname for security reasons.
At the core of the system is GOGOL-M, a fixed-wing drone “mothership” with a 20-foot wingspan.
It carries two FPV-type loitering munitions, which are launched near the target area and autonomously seek out and strike high-value targets up to 300 kilometers away. These could include airfields, missile batteries, oil depots, or even convoys.
What distinguishes StratForce’s solution is its SmartPilot system—a lightweight, AI-powered autopilot that integrates data from cameras, LIDAR, and onboard sensors to autonomously navigate, avoid obstacles, and engage moving targets without relying on GPS or real-time human input.
“In some ways, it is like a self-driving car,” Andrii explained. “There are not so many obstacles in the air, but the system has to be lightweight. That’s how we arrived at our setup of cameras, LIDAR, and communication.”
The system enables the drones to carry out advanced functions like ambush missions, where they can land and wait for targets—such as aircraft returning to base or convoys moving through a kill zone—before autonomously attacking.
“SmartPilot uses a multi-sensor fusion approach, combining data for environment perception and target recognition,” Andrii said. “It enables autonomous flight, navigation, and engagement without GPS and without constant operator control.”
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According to Andrii, the company can currently produce up to 50 GOGOL-M motherships and 400 FPV drones per month, depending on military contracts. Feedback from initial test users has been enthusiastic.
“It feels like a video game. I just set the waypoints, choose the targets, and watch it work,” said one operator.
“It’s fascinating to watch from the coordination center. I just wish we could increase the warhead and push the range to 500 kilometers,” added another.
While the drones have not yet been independently verified in combat footage, Andrii says this is a logical progression from previous Ukrainian innovations in FPV drones and drone swarms. In fact, the system may already surpass efforts under development by the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit or China’s concept-stage CGI swarm mothership.
Though early, Version 1.0 of this autonomous drone warfare platform could be a disruptive force in the coming months—especially given its modularity. The software can adapt to different platforms, from jet-powered UAVs to unmanned boats and ground vehicles, depending on operational needs.
“By pairing [small FPV drones] with AI mothership drones, we can guarantee precision strikes,” said Andrii.
Russia, already struggling with an increasingly drone-saturated battlespace, may soon find itself facing swarms of smart, low-cost, self-directed aerial attackers—and no easy way to stop them.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy outlined significant progress in securing stable funding for Ukraine’s defense industry through bilateral agreements with international partners.
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