Deadliner Q1 — Drone Dominance finalist

Deadliner Q1, a fiber-optic FPV strike drone, has been named a finalist in the Pentagon Drone Dominance program — a large-scale U.S. Department of War initiative for the accelerated procurement of unmanned systems produced by American and allied manufacturers.

The Drone Dominance Program is a two-year, $1.1 billion initiative of the U.S. Department of War, launched under a presidential executive order to accelerate the production, procurement and fielding of small unmanned aircraft systems. Its goal is to equip U.S. combat units, within short timelines, with drones capable of operating in the most demanding combat environments. The program follows a competitive model: participants go through a series of "Gauntlet" selection stages in which their systems are tested directly by military operators in dynamic, combat-representative scenarios. Winners of each stage receive contracts for prototype and serial production batches.

"Finalist status in the Drone Dominance program, earned by Deadliner Q1, is important recognition for our team and for Ukrainian drone manufacturing as a whole. This result is the achievement of a team that combines the combat experience of veterans from the most intense sections of the front with engineering expertise," says the company's Business Development Director.

Participants reached the final selection through a qualification stage at Camp Grayling, Michigan, where 49 companies tested 79 unmanned systems in long-range strike and urban operations scenarios. Following this stage, 19 participants were admitted to Gauntlet II, which begins in late summer.

"It is worth noting that the Ukrainian participants faced additional challenges compared with other teams. A significant part of the preparation time went into logistics and customs clearance, integration with a U.S. warhead manufacturer, and obtaining export permits. While our competitors could devote that time directly to preparing for the tasks themselves — despite this, Deadliner Q1 proved its competitiveness.

The next stage of the program, Gauntlet II, takes place in August 2026, and the team is already preparing for it. We are grateful for the opportunity to present a Ukrainian development at this level, and we continue working to supply our partners with reliable and effective equipment," says the company's Head of Export.

About Deadliner Q1

Deadliner Q1 is a ten-inch fiber-optic FPV drone with a 2 kg payload, exceeding most competing solutions in its class. It reaches speeds of up to 110 km/h with a cruising speed of 60–70 km/h, a control range of 20 km and a flight time of no less than 20 minutes. Control and video transmission run over optical fiber, providing full resistance to electronic warfare and effective performance in reconnaissance-strike missions.

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