WASHINGTON — The U.S. military has received its first batch of 2,000 F10 first-person view (FPV) strike drones manufactured by Ukrainian company F-Drones, marking the first official export of fully assembled Ukrainian-made combat drones to the United States.
F-Drones confirmed the delivery to the Ukrainian defense publication Militarnyi, stating that the shipment represents a significant step for Ukraine's defense industry. According to the company, this is the first time the Ukrainian government has authorized the export of complete, combat-ready domestically produced military drones. Previous approvals issued during the current period of martial law were limited to the export of specific components and technologies rather than finished weapons systems.
Ukraine's State Service of Export Control granted the export permit on July 1, 2026, with support from the state-owned enterprise Spetstechnoexport. The drones were manufactured in Ukraine before being delivered to the United States.
Acceptance Process and Training
The newly delivered F10 drones are currently undergoing the U.S. military's standard acceptance process. Once the hardware successfully completes quality checks, U.S. military personnel will begin training on operating the drones.
F-Drones said it has already submitted a separate application to Ukraine's State Service for Export Control seeking approval to provide training services for U.S. personnel.
"These units are currently undergoing the acceptance process. Once it is completed, training for U.S. military personnel will begin, covering how to operate our UAVs," the company stated.
The company added that the current agreement includes an option for the delivery of up to 1,000 additional F10 drones after the acceptance process is completed.
Part of the Pentagon's Drone Dominance Program
The delivery is part of the Gauntlet I phase of the Pentagon's Drone Dominance Program, a U.S. Department of Defense initiative aimed at rapidly acquiring more than 200,000 tactical drones by 2027. The program is backed by approximately $1 billion to $1.1 billion in funding and focuses on procuring drones capable of delivering lethal effects in demanding battlefield conditions.
F-Drones secured its place in the program together with its U.S. partner, UDD Tech Corp. (Ukrainian Defense Drones Tech Corp.).
During the Gauntlet I evaluations held at Fort Benning, Georgia, in February 2026, the F10 drone was tested by U.S. soldiers in field operations and long-range strike scenarios. The system finished sixth among 25 competing platforms and was selected among the top-performing companies to receive prototype procurement contracts.
Manufacturing Partnership in the United States
To expand cooperation with the U.S. defense sector, UDD Tech Corp. is establishing a manufacturing facility in Holland, Ohio. According to the company, the goal is to gradually shift from importing completed Ukrainian-made drones to manufacturing the systems within the United States.
F-Drones Chief Executive Officer Stas Khutor said exports help strengthen Ukraine's defense industry rather than reduce supplies available to its armed forces.
"Exports are a tool for scaling up production, attracting investment, advancing technology, raising quality standards, and strengthening international cooperation. It does not mean 'less for the front line'. On the contrary, a stronger industry means stronger Armed Forces," Khutor said.
Gauntlet II Evaluations Underway
The Drone Dominance Program consists of four competitive Gauntlet phases, with Gauntlet II now underway.
F-Drones and UDD Tech Corp. have qualified for the second phase, which will focus on night operations, urban environments, and close-quarters combat. As part of the upcoming evaluations, the company plans to deliver 120 additional F10 drones for use by U.S. military personnel during testing.
According to company information, the trials are scheduled for late August 2026 at Camp Grayling, Michigan, where U.S. military operators will independently evaluate the drones across multiple combat mission scenarios.
The results of the Gauntlet II evaluations will help determine future procurement decisions. Depending on performance, F-Drones could become eligible for a follow-on agreement covering up to 9,000 additional drones.
Expanding International Cooperation
Alongside its U.S. partnership, F-Drones is also expanding its presence in Europe. The company recently became a founding member of the Ukraine–EU Drone Alliance, an initiative established to strengthen cooperation between Ukrainian and European drone manufacturers and increase production capacity for unmanned systems.
The first shipment of 2,000 F10 FPV drones marks both the beginning of operational deliveries to the U.S. military and the first officially approved export of fully assembled Ukrainian combat drones, reflecting growing defense-industrial cooperation between Ukraine and the United States.
——— End of Article ———
