Israel buys thousands of suicide drones for IDF as FPV drones take centre stage in modern warfare
August 21, 2025
Israel has ordered a batch of 5,000 FPV drones with Chinese parts to keep costs down. Meanwhile, the US is looking to ramp up mass-produced drones without Chinese parts, causing them to be more expensive.
Israel orders thousands of cheap drones with Chinese components
Israel’s Ministry of Defence has announced XTEND has won a contract to supply 5,000 FPV (First Person View) drones to the IDF Ground Forces.
In a statement, Israel said it is part of a “comprehensive strategy to strengthen Israel’s defence production capacity and local industries while maintaining full support for IDF operational needs now and in the intense decade ahead.”
The estimated cost of each 10-inch FPV assault drone is NIS 3,500 ($1,033), while the contract includes virtual reality glasses worn by operators as well as operating stations.
XTEND won the contract thanks to the low cost of the drones, which is only possible due to the incorporation of Chinese components. Globes reported they “contain a Chinese component, a video transmitter manufactured by a Hong Kong-based company.”
According to Globes, each drone will have a payload capacity of 2.5 kgs (enough for a small explosive charge). They are likely to be used as single-use suicide attack drones.
US quest for Chinese component-free drones
Both Russia and Ukraine are building millions (200k monthly) of drones stuffed with Chinese components, often purchased through third parties. The reliance on China is not technological; it’s just that China produces them cheaply and in quantity.
The US is blocking the import of Chinese equipment for national infrastructure and military equipment, including its military FPV drones. The Chinese company DJI alone commands around 70% of the global drone market, partly thanks to Chinese state funding.
In 2024, Defense One reported Soren Monroe-Anderson, co-founder of American first-person-view drone company Neros (founded in 2023). “You end up paying, you know, 100 times more for a US component than you would for a Chinese component.”
The article noted that US Army quadcopters can cost between $14,000 and $65,000 each. However, it’s important to note these may be considerably more capable than other, cheaper drones.
In July 2025, Defense News reported Neros is now building around 1,500 of its Archer drones monthly, with 1,000 sent to Ukraine and 500 to the US military. These 8-inch quadcopters have a range of over 12 miles and have a 2 kg payload.
The fierce debate over the future of small FPV drones
The debate over the future of FPV drones in war is heavily debated. Many point out that Russia and Ukraine are now relying on drones because they are countries with limited manufacturing capabilities. Slovakia, alone, produces around the same number of cars as Russia annually.
Russia, like Ukraine, is now dependent on artillery shells from North Korea to maintain a constant rate of fire. The argument is that these countries are relying on drones because they have no choice. More powerful countries like the United States and China are not Ukraine or Russia, and they have other options for their core offensive capabilities.
Some say artillery remains king of the battlefield, and drones are a “poor man’s air force.” Ukraine and Russia have air parity, and Russia’s much larger air force has mostly been pushed to the side throughout the conflict.
The Israeli air dominance over Iran in the 12 Day War once again highlighted how impactful an effective air force could be, carrying large payloads.
It is more or less universally agreed that FPV drones will have an important place on the future battlefield, but the question remains just how revolutionary they will be.
One volunteer fighter in Ukraine recently gave an interview with War On the Rocks, saying the use of drones is much more nuanced in Ukraine than the steady stream of released videos would lead one to believe.
It is unclear if evolving counter-drone measures will force FPV drones to be upgraded to the point that they are no longer the cheap and disposable systems they are today.
