Ukrainian startup launches fully autonomous drone strikes deep into Russian territory, rewriting the rules of modern warfare, Forbes reports.

In a historic military breakthrough, Ukrainian defense startup Strategy Force Solutions has successfully deployed autonomous drone motherships in real combat operations against Russian forces — a world first that could reshape global defense strategies.

Their breakthrough system, GOGOL-M, swaps out traditional $3–$5 million missile strikes for AI-driven missions costing just $10,000.

Ukraine surges ahead in drone warfare innovation

While global powers like the US and China continue testing autonomous weapons, Ukraine has leapfrogged ahead, deploying AI-powered drone swarms on the battlefield today, not years from now.

The GOGOL-M mothership, boasting a 20-foot (6-meter) wingspan, can autonomously fly up to 300 km behind enemy lines. It then releases two smaller attack drones that identify and destroy targets without human control.

How it works: AI-powered precision at scale

At the core of the system is SmartPilot, an onboard AI that mirrors the instincts of a human fighter pilot. It uses multi-sensor fusion — combining cameras, LIDAR, and communications — to navigate and strike in environments where GPS and radio signals are jammed.

“In some ways, it’s like a self-driving car,” says CTO Andrii.

He explains that while there aren’t many obstacles in the air, the system still needs to remain lightweight. To achieve that balance, the team engineered a streamlined setup using cameras, LIDAR, and communication tools to enable real-time navigation and coordination.

LIDAR, which acts like laser radar, generates a detailed 3D map of the surroundings and functions in all lighting and weather — essential for reliable autonomous missions in hostile conditions.

This gives the drones the ability to:

• Destroy parked jets and air defenses
• Hit oil depots and infrastructure
• Strike deep into Russia with precision

One military operator described the experience:

“It feels like a video game. I set the waypoints and watch it work.”

Silent and deadly: Drones that wait to strike

In one of its most striking features, the drone can land near enemy targets, remain hidden, and wait for hours before launching a surprise strike — a capability described as “autonomous ambush mode.”

This gives Ukrainian forces a powerful edge in asymmetric warfare, allowing for stealth operations previously thought impossible with drone tech.

Ukraine beats US and China to real-world AI combat

While the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit and China’s drone makers remain in testing phases, Ukraine is already in full-scale production. Strategy Force Solutions now builds 50 GOGOL-Ms and 400 attack drones per month, constrained only by military demand.

The company’s software-first approach also allows easy adaptation to new platforms — from flying drones to unmanned boats and ground vehicles.

Russia faces a new kind of threat

Military analysts suggest that Russia must now defend against autonomous swarms that don’t need GPS, live control, or constant communication — a nightmare for traditional air defense systems.

As Forbes tech correspondent David Hambling notes:

“The crucial first step — long-range autonomous drone delivery — has now been taken. It may be Version 1.0, but it’s already a problem for Russia.”

A childhood idea that sparked a military revolution

The origin of this breakthrough? A childhood memory. As a boy, the system’s creator Andrii saw a woman walking railway tracks to check for defects. He thought, “This should be done by a robot.”

That early insight grew into AI systems for infrastructure inspection — and later, with the onset of war in 2022, a pivot to battlefield autonomy.