Spring tests 10+ drones for Ukraine Deep Strike Russian Infrastructure
Spring, a drone pilot with the Ukrainian National Guard's Typhoon unit, said Ukraine deep strike Russian infrastructure now depends on mid-range strike drones that can reach Russia’s rear areas, but many arrive with serious technical problems. She has tested over 10 types since early last year, and some systems need repeated trials before combat crews can use them.
Typhoon Unit Drone Tests
Spring said the first drone system she tested in early 2025 arrived so glitchy that "In every sortie, everything that could go wrong went wrong,". She said the fixed-wing drone’s camera feed stopped working, software stalled before takeoff, controls became unresponsive after a few minutes, and batteries failed. Spring said that system had already been sent to the front for combat use.
Her job with Typhoon does not end at the range. After clearing a drone there, Spring brings it to the front lines for further trials before it can be deemed combat-ready. Some drones pass after a few flights. Others take dozens.
Russian Jamming and Reach
Spring mostly tests drones that fly between 40 and 60 km, and she said she checks how reliably they work against Russian jamming after long-distance flights. Some mid-range systems use AI targeting to keep flying and searching after losing contact with the pilot’s control station. Spring said the drones must strike reliably at 25 miles and beyond.
Mid-range strike drones are typically fixed-wing systems that can fly between 18 and 180 miles. Analysts say those strikes have given Ukraine a critical advantage by allowing attacks on logistics, command posts, and transports in rear areas. Spring said the drones she tests cost between $1,000 and $15,000 each.
What Spring Tries To Block
Spring said her testing is meant to keep unreliable systems away from combat crews. "If a manufacturer is not responsible, I do everything possible to prevent their system from reaching combat crews in our unit," she said. That screening has become part of how Ukraine is pushing more drones into service without sending faulty equipment to the front.
Attacks on rear-area assets have contributed to a net loss of territory for Russian forces in the last few months, and Spring’s testing cycle is one filter before another drone leaves the range. She said she has been testing these systems since early last year, while the frontline demands on them continue to grow.
