Finnish defense company Summa Defence has delivered the first batch of Zeus first-person view (FPV) drones to Ukraine, marking a new milestone in European support for Ukrainian battlefield capabilities. The delivery follows the achievement of industrial production readiness in 2025, reached through a joint development program with a Ukrainian partner focused on producing a combat-proven and scalable FPV system.
The Zeus drone family is manufactured and tested in Finland and is offered in three size classes, with the systems primarily classified as dual-use platforms. Designed for tactical-level missions, the drones vary in range, payload, and control architecture, with configurations available for both radio and fiber-optic control depending on operational requirements and electronic warfare conditions.
The 11-inch Zeus variant supports two control options. In its fiber-optic configuration, the drone’s range is limited by the length of the fiber spool and carries a payload of around 3 kilograms, cruising at approximately 54 km/h. When radio-controlled, the same variant can lift up to 5 kilograms, operate at distances exceeding 20 kilometers, and reach speeds of about 101 km/h, enabling long-range strike and reconnaissance missions.
Larger in size, the 13-inch Zeus is optimized for heavier payloads, with a maximum takeoff weight of roughly 7 kilograms and an average operating speed of 72 km/h. At the smaller end of the spectrum, the 2.5-inch Zeus microdrone is designed for short-range reconnaissance, weighing just 225 grams and offering 8–10 minutes of flight time. Together, the Zeus lineup provides a flexible FPV drone solution for diverse mission profiles in contested environments.
