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Ukrainian company XX Systems has produced over 370 FPV drones for the frontline in Ukraine. The production and delivery have been financed with support from Norwegian donors.
The drones are manufactured in Ukraine and delivered directly to the front.
“I’m very pleased with the outcome,” says Max Surhai.
He is 26 years old, CEO, and founder of XX Systems, the company behind the drones.
A joint effort with Robymo
Thanks to a joint effort between Norwegian and Ukrainian supporters, more than 370 FPV drones have now been delivered to Ukrainian defense units. The delivery is part of a collaborative project between the organizations and the result of a close partnership over time.
“We’ve worked with the Ukrainian organization Robymo, where we each contribute 50 percent of the financing,” explains Natalia Golis, Secretary General of Fritt Ukraina.
This means that the funding from Norway is matched by an equivalent amount from Ukrainian sponsors—for GPS units, transmitters, and the FPV drones themselves.
“This matching means the funds from Norway have twice the impact on the ground. And most importantly, the partnership builds a sense of ownership in both Norway and Ukraine,” she adds.
Tailored for frontline needs
The drones are so-called FPV (First Person View) drones. These are small quadcopters used as interceptors to take down other drones, or as attack drones against ground targets. They function essentially as precision-guided munitions and are adapted to the needs of Ukrainian defense units.
“The drones are custom-built to meet the users’ needs in terms of frequency range, compatible equipment, and payload capacity. Each can carry up to three kilograms and has a range of 20 to 30 kilometers,” says Max Surhai, CEO and founder of XX Systems.
Each drone costs around 3,000 NOK. They are easy to assemble and can be controlled either by radio signals or via fiber optic cables.
“The most skilled drone operators can achieve over 90 percent accuracy with drones like these,” Surhai says.
A classic Ukrainian startup story
XX Systems is a small drone manufacturer based in Lviv. The company was chosen by Robymo as the supplier for the project.
“This is a very classic Ukrainian type of producer—a small company led by a former software engineer who has now begun manufacturing FPV drones.”
“I really admire how such small producers are given the chance to innovate and grow by receiving concrete orders,” says Natalia Golis.
Surhai, who leads XX Systems, has a background in IT and manufacturing in China. He says the transition into drone production came naturally.
“I don’t have a military background, but I’ve worked with technology since I was 16. As we began drone production, we learned a lot from the soldiers who use them and developed our solutions based on their needs,” he explains.
Scalable production and deep gratitude
The production is both efficient and flexible, according to Surhai.
“It’s easy to scale up production. It doesn’t require heavy infrastructure or specialized labor. We’ve built a solid supply chain with quality components. The only thing limiting our production today is financing. We’re ready to increase output significantly if we receive more support,” says Surhai.
He also expresses deep gratitude for the contribution from Norway:
“We’re incredibly thankful for the cooperation and the help we’ve received. All support from our Western friends means the world to us. We are ready to continue and produce even more drones.”
“You are a fantastic example of a country that supports freedom and European security. It’s a great pleasure to have you here, and we’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Norwegian people,” Max Surhai adds.
The drones were handed over as part of Fritt Ukraina’s transport number 83 in June 2025.
About Robymo
Robymo is a Ukrainian non-profit organization combining insight-driven research, education, and defense support. They have raised significant sums for drones and technical equipment while also working on knowledge sharing, cybersecurity, and reintegration of soldiers.