Russia finds it difficult to catch up.. Ukraine receives 300 American Penguin drones

The American company Redwire announced the delivery of more than 300 Penguin reconnaissance drones to Ukraine, noting that the version recently delivered flies at much higher altitudes compared to those sent for the first time in 2022, making it difficult for Russian FPV attack drones to reach them.

The American company revealed this number in a report on its website, as part of its support for Ukrainian forces over the past 4 years.

The Penguin drone is a small, fixed-wing aircraft designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance purposes, meaning it monitors the battlefield and sends video footage to the forces, according to the "Defence Blog" website.

It seems that the rules of war between Russia and Ukraine have completely changed, as Kyiv has managed to strike military targets deep inside Russia using a swarm of drones.

Redwire indicated that the Ukrainian armed forces chose the Penguin MK2X for its ability to fly long distances, its flight range, and its altitude.

The company explained that the Mk2X can fly at much higher altitudes than the previous versions that it was flying at the beginning of the war, which helps protect it from being targeted by FPV drones, which are small, inexpensive quadcopters used by both sides to attack targets. Redwire did not disclose the new altitude.

The drone is equipped with an Octopus 180 camera from Redwire, which is a stabilized camera made in Latvia that allows operators to monitor targets from a greater distance and with higher precision.

Drones have become a key weapon in the Russian-Ukrainian war, with a race to develop aircraft that can overcome electronic jamming and strike distant targets, expanding the kill zone.

The business development officer at Redwire in Ukraine said: "The technology that was suitable here two months ago is now outdated, and for every action our opponent takes, we innovate a countermeasure, and we need to quickly develop a superior solution to succeed in our mission in Ukraine."

Redwire announced that it often sells its drones directly to the Ukrainian government, rather than supplying them through military aid packages from the European Union or NATO.

The Penguin aircraft is designed, built, and tested in Latvia, where the American company operates a flight operations team that trains Ukrainian operators.

The company also maintains an office and staff in Ukraine for maintenance, repair, training, and engineering support, and describes Redwire as the largest defense company in the Baltic states.

Tuna Gemil, the Senior Vice President of Business Development and Strategy at Redwire Defense, stated that "the Penguin aircraft deployed in Ukraine today is not the same as the one purchased four years ago."

He added that "these improvements are a direct result of our modular system design, which operates at full capacity in this modern battlefield, proving daily how the survivability of drones depends on their adaptability."

Redwire, known for its spacecraft components, entered the drone manufacturing industry in 2025 when it acquired Edge Autonomy, the manufacturer of the Penguin aircraft.

Josh Stinson, co-chair and Chief Growth Officer at Redwire Defense Tech, stated in previous remarks to "Defence Blog" that Russian electronic warfare means that navigation and communications can never be guaranteed, and no drone manufacturer should claim immunity against jamming.

Ukraine has unveiled the Katran X1.2, an unmanned surface vessel designed to serve as a "mother ship" for carrying swarms of intercepting drones.

He added that the company's Chief Technology Officer once had a video call, through a translator, with a Ukrainian special operations commander in one of the bunkers to discuss how Russian tactics have changed.

Stinson noted that one NATO country - not disclosed - has requested the next model, the Penguin MK3, under a multi-year contract worth tens of millions of dollars.

The MK3 drone is characterized by its ability to take off and land vertically independently, has several cargo compartments, carries more equipment than previous versions, is designed for winter operations, and can be operated by a crew of two.

Stinson explained that Redwire does not consider the MK3 aircraft to be combat-tested, even though its design is based on the experience of the Penguin family of aircraft in Ukraine.