The Finnish group of defense companies Summa Defence announced in an official press release on December 23 that it has supplied the Ukrainian Defense Forces with the first product batch of ZEUS FPV drones manufactured by Summa Drones - the unmanned aerial vehicle division of the concern.
The amount of the deal, as well as the number of drones delivered in the first batch, were not disclosed.
Read more: FPV Drones Detected russian BMD-4 Vehicle, Allowing Ukrainian Troops to Conduct Precise and Effective Attack (Video)
However, according to Jussi Holopainen, Director of Summa Defence, the ZEUS FPV drones received positive feedback from the Ukrainian military and were tested in difficult combat conditions.
"The feedback from the Ukrainian Army has been positive. The performance and functionality have been verified in combat conditions, and the project, which has started well, will be continued with increasing volumes in 2026," says Jussi Holopainen.
The company notes, that has released ZEUS FPV drones, manufactured and tested in Finland and suitable for reconnaissance and tactical operations, in three sizes: 2.5”, 11” and 13”. According to Summa Defence drones in the ZEUS product family can mainly be classified as so-called dual-use products.
It is interesting that the product program has been implemented in close cooperation with some Ukrainian partner. The goal of the program is to create a field-tested product concept for Summa Drones that is suitable for European customers.
We recall that back in November 2024, Summa Defence announced plans to create a drone production enterprise "together with Ukrainian partners", full-scale production was planned for the beginning of this year. In addition to UAVs, plans were announced to also produce ground robotic systems as well as naval drones.
There are three modifications in the ZEUS FPV drone line, the smallest of which is a 2.5-inch microdrone with a maximum range of 2 km, a flight duration at an average speed of 8-10 minutes and the ability to carry up to 300 g of payload with its own weight of 225 grams.
The largest models, 11” and 13”, can reach targets up to 40 kilometres away using a dedicated base station.
The 11″ ZEUS DIGITAL and 13″ ZEUS FPV drones are based on battlefield-tested design expertise. Stable signal connectivity, optimised flight time, and technical reliability are critical for mission success. These drones are ideal for reconnaissance operations or transporting supplies and payloads in a variety of demanding conditions. All ZEUS-series drones can be equipped with the most suitable control system: radio or fiber-optic.
The 11-inch and 13-inch modifications have two options - with and without fiber-optic control. In the first version with fiber-optic control, the range is from 15 km with a payload of 3 kg. Without - more than 20 km with a payload of 4-5 kg. In the second - with fiber-optic control and a payload of 3 kg, the range is more than 20 km.
According to the company, ZEUS FPV drones deliver exceptionally stable and predictable flight behaviour, critical for long-range professional missions. Integration of night vision cameras is also possible, enabling operations in low light or complete darkness.
As Defense Express reported earlier, Ukrainian FPV drones struck russian Buyan-M corvette for the first time. We also wrote, that, inspired by Ukraine, Britain integrated FPV drones into Naval drones.
Read more: Inside Ukraine's Barracuda Fleet: 9 Sea Drones Packing FPVs, Rockets, 1-Ton Warheads
