The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have purchased FPV attack drones for the first time, with the initial batch intended for special forces.
The Israeli company Xtend won the bid to supply 5,000 kamikaze drones and associated equipment, in a contract valued at approximately $5.9 million. Each drone, measuring 10 inches, can carry up to 2.5 kg and is estimated to cost about $1,000. Operator training will begin alongside delivery, scheduled for two and a half months from now.
The drones will be used ahead of soldiers to reduce risks, according to Hen Haim, Xtend’s operations director. The company outbid competitors such as Robotican, Tehiru, CopterPix, and Elbit Systems, despite criticisms of the tender requiring low unit cost and the inclusion of Chinese-made components.
Some Xtend models already feature advanced target acquisition and automatic navigation systems, eliminating the need for human intervention.
Although this is the army’s first official purchase, Israeli intelligence has already used kamikaze drones in secret operations in Iran, including attacks on missile systems and air defenses. In some operations, helicopters equipped with 60 mm mines or shaped charges were remotely launched from containers near military facilities.
Before this, the U.S. Navy also tested FPV drones with fiber optics during military exercises.
Source: Militarnyi | Photo: LinkedIn – XTEND | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
