Ukrainian Startup Says AI Drones Could Operate Autonomously by Year’s End

Ukrainian tech startup The Fourth Law is aiming to launch fully autonomous combat drones by the end of 2025, powered by artificial intelligence.

Backed by new Western investment, the company has released new footage demonstrating its advanced targeting technology.

Founder and CEO Yaroslav Azhnyuk told the Kyiv Independent that full autonomy where drones can run missions without human control is within reach. “We’re likely to see singular demos by the end of this year,” he said.

The TFL-1 AI modules, already in use with units like Ukraine’s 58th Brigade, use neural networks to precisely identify and track Russian vehicles. Unlike older systems, they target exact outlines rather than general pixel patterns, boosting last-mile accuracy.

Each module costs about $70 and is already deployed in the thousands. The software is adaptable, working across FPV drones, fixed-wing aircraft, and potentially missiles.

Azhnyuk also heads Odd Systems, a drone hardware company he co-founded in late 2023. He previously founded Petcube, a Y Combinator-backed startup that created smart cameras for pet owners.

Ukraine’s defense tech cluster Brave1 is driving rapid innovation, recently unveiling an AI-powered “mother drone” and supporting over 200 AI-based military projects.