FPV drone (Illustrative photo: Ministry of Defense)

The Czech company Spark is providing Ukraine with FPV attack drones based on a captured Russian drone. About 200 drones have already been produced. About this, report journalists of the Czech publication iDNES.cz after visiting the drone tests.

According to journalists, the new drone was based on a Russian drone that was captured by a soldier of the 102nd Territorial Brigade of Ukraine in Zaporizhzhia region in the fall. The soldier cut the fiber-optic control cable and kept the device, after which the drone was handed over to Czech volunteers.

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The seized drone was developed by the Ushkuynik Research and Production Center in Novgorod and was called the Prince Vandal of Novgorod. It was used as an attack drone that could wait for a target on the ground and then attack armored vehicles or transport.

The company's team completely disassembled the Russian device and developed its own attack quadcopter on its basis. The new drone was named Jan Žižka in honor of the Czech Hussite commander.

According to iDNES.cz, the drone has a simple design with a fiberglass frame, 3D-printed elements, and can be controlled both by radio and via fiber optic cable up to 25 kilometers long, making it resistant to electronic jamming. The drone is capable of carrying several kilograms of explosives.

Almost all of the drone's components are manufactured in the Czech Republic. Thanks to its simple design, its cost is about a third lower than that of its previous counterparts.

The company started producing drones thanks to the financial support of the Darek pro Putina initiative (Gift for Putin). The company is currently completing a 15 million kronor fundraising drive, which will allow it to build about 500 more drones.

"We told ourselves that we would return to the Russians what they send us," added volunteer Lesya Kopchuk.

  • on October 24, it became known that "A Gift for Putin" collected the required amount for the production of the Ukrainian Flamingo missile for the Armed Forces of Ukraine in less than 48 hours.
  • november 10, Novinek reportedthe organization said that the money raised could be used to buy two missiles.