Ukraine Deploys AI-Powered ‘Drone Motherships’ in First Long-Range Attack on Russian Targets
For the first time, Ukraine has used an advanced drone system powered by artificial intelligence to strike Russian targets deep behind enemy lines. The operation marks a new chapter in modern warfare, where machines carry out missions with minimal human involvement.
The Gaze reports on this with reference to Forbes.
Ukrainian startup Strategy Force Solutions revealed that its GOGOL-M drone carrier, known as a “drone mothership,” has completed successful long-range missions. The reusable drone can fly up to 300 kilometers, release two smaller FPV (first-person view) kamikaze drones, and then return to base. The released drones, equipped with AI-based guidance, locate and attack their targets on their own.
The system is guided by SmartPilot, a unique autopilot that combines cameras, LIDAR (laser radar), and smart navigation software. Originally developed for checking power lines and oil pipelines, the technology has been retooled for military use. Now, it helps drones fly on their own, avoid obstacles, and find targets, even without GPS.
The FPV drones are not limited to static targets. Thanks to AI, they can wait in ambush, track moving objects, or search for high-value assets like aircraft or convoys in real time.
Each GOGOL-M can deliver multiple drones, making it much more efficient than traditional one-way strike drones like the Iranian Shahed. The startup currently has the capacity to produce 50 motherships and 400 attack drones per month.
While no combat footage has been released yet, developers say trial missions have shown great potential. Ukraine’s innovative use of AI and low-cost technology could soon reshape how drone warfare is conducted, not just in this war, but worldwide.
As The Gaze reported earlier, a research project by Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense Innovation Center has been named one of NATO’s top 10 scientific contributions in 2025, signaling a major leap forward for the country’s defense tech sector.