Aircraft & UAVs

A1-CM Furia

Also known as
  • Furia
  • Fury
  • Фурія

The A1-CM Furia is a Ukrainian electric fixed-wing tactical UAV built by Athlon Avia for reconnaissance and artillery fire correction. Official and Ukrainian reporting describe it as a modular, catapult-launched system that first saw combat in 2014, was adopted by the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 2020, and remains a frontline artillery-support UAV.

A1-CM Furia, Fixed-wing tactical reconnaissance UAV, Aircraft & UAVs
Image source: File: Furia ACM130103.jpg

Role in Conflicts

Documented Field Package

Athlon Avia presents Furia as a modular reconnaissance package, not just a single airframe, which helps explain why it has stayed relevant through repeated wartime upgrades.

TopicDocumented detailSource
System packageThree unmanned aerial vehicles, three daytime payloads, and two nighttime payloads with thermal imagers.A1-CM Furia | Athlon Avia - Unmanned solutions
Mission setReconnaissance and artillery fire correction in frontline service.A1-CM Furia Ukrainian Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), Furia (Fury) UAV
Training useShown with artillery units at live-fire training camps in the southern direction.UAS A1-CM Furia on training camps | Athlon Avia
Name originThe nickname came from the dragon Fury in How to Train Your Dragon.One of the first reconnaissance drones: Museum of Military Technologies replenished with Furia UAV
Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Ukraine
Built by
Athlon Avia
Type
Fixed-wing tactical reconnaissance UAV
Service note
Developed in 2014; in Ukrainian service through the full-scale invasion
Designer
Athlon Avia
Designed
2014
Unit cost
Reported estimate: about $25,000 per system
Produced
2014-present
Number built
More than 100 systems in various modifications

Specifications

Role
Tactical ISR and artillery fire adjustment
Airframe
Electric fixed-wing UAV with pusher propeller
Maximum takeoff weight
Approximately 5.5 kg
Wingspan
Approximately 2.5 m
Endurance
Approximately 3 hours for earlier variants; newer A1-SM reports cite more than 5 hours
Operational range
About 50 km data-link range
Sensors
Stabilized electro-optical payload with optional thermal imaging on improved variants
Launch and recovery
Bungee/catapult launch and parachute recovery
Variants
  • A1-SM Furia
  • A1-C Furia
Carried Payloads

Athlon Avia lists daytime and nighttime optical payload options for the A1-CM Furia.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
Nighttime optical payload with thermal imaging camera, Thermal-imaging optical payload with 35 mm athermal lens, 2-axis gyrostabilization, and 2.4x digital zoom, Support EquipmentNighttime optical payload with thermal imaging cameraNight optical payload

Athlon Avia lists the nighttime optical payload as part of the A1-CM Furia package, and War Wings Daily describes it as a thermal-imaging camera module with a 35 mm athermal lens, 2-axis gyrostabilization, and 2.4x digital zoom.

Sources: A1-CM Furia | Athlon Avia - Unmanned solutions, Athlon-Avia A1-CM Furia (Fury) - War Wings Daily

Timeline

A1-CM Furia Key Events

  1. First combat use in Sloviansk

    Mezha reported that the Furia was first used during the liberation of Sloviansk in 2014, when it became one of the first wing-type reconnaissance drones in Ukrainian military service.

    Sources: One of the first reconnaissance drones: Museum of Military Technologies replenished with Furia UAV

  2. Formal Armed Forces adoption

    Athlon Avia announced that the A1-CM Furia was adopted by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, noting that the system had already been procured for both the AFU and the National Guard.

    Sources: UAS A1-CM Furia was adopted by the Armed Forces of Ukraine

  3. Updated Furia announced

    Ukrainska Pravda reported that Athlon Avia unveiled a modernised Furia with day and night optics, a 5-hour endurance target, and a 100 km target range while earlier Furia systems remained in artillery-unit service.

    Sources: Upgraded Furia reconnaissance drone will have night optics and 100 km range

Media

A1-CM Furia Videos

A1-CM Furia Images

A1-CM Furia, Fixed-wing tactical reconnaissance UAV, Aircraft & UAVs - view 1
Source: File: UAV Atlon-Avia 04.jpg
Related Weapon Systems
Nighttime optical payload with thermal imaging camera, Thermal-imaging optical payload with 35 mm athermal lens, 2-axis gyrostabilization, and 2.4x digital zoom, Support EquipmentSupport EquipmentNighttime optical payload with thermal imaging cameraThermal-imaging optical payload with 35 mm athermal lens, 2-axis gyrostabilization, and 2.4x digital zoomThe nighttime optical payload with thermal imaging camera is Athlon Avia's stabilized night sensor option for the Furia tactical UAV family. Sources describe the A1-CM night payload as a thermal imager with a 35 mm athermal lens, 2-axis gyrostabilization, onboard video recording, and 2.4x digital zoom, while later A1SM reporting says the night module received a FLIR thermal imager upgrade.
Molniya, One-way attack UAV, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsMolniyaOne-way attack UAVMolniya is a Russian low-cost fixed-wing FPV UAV family used in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War for one-way attacks, reconnaissance, targeting support, and experimental carrier roles. Ukrainian intelligence, UNITED24, and Business Insider reporting describe a modular aircraft-type design built from inexpensive materials, with Molniya-2 emerging as the enlarged twin-engine baseline for later Lightning 2 export branding, Molniya-2R reconnaissance, fiber-optic, machine-vision, Lightning 13 / Molniya-13, and Lightning P / Molniya-P adaptations attributed in 2026 reporting to Atlant Aero.
Blyskavka, Fixed-wing strike UAV, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsBlyskavkaFixed-wing strike UAVBlyskavka is a Ukrainian fixed-wing strike UAV from Vyriy Industries, developed from captured Russian Molniya-family design ideas but rebuilt with Ukrainian electronics, warheads, and production standardization. Sources document Ukrainian Special Operations Forces deliveries, Ukrainian Defense Forces fielding, a 40 km recorded combat-use strike with a 9 kg warhead, and a later aerodynamic fairing that increased range while retaining a low-cost catapult-launched twin-propeller airframe.

Sources

A1-CM Furia Ukrainian Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)Publisher: ODIN - U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command | Note: Supports manufacturer, background, and general system specification context for the A1-CM Furia. | Accessed: 2026-06-20A1-CM Furia | Athlon Avia - Unmanned solutionsPublisher: Athlon Avia | Note: Supports the Furia system package of three UAVs, three daytime payloads, and two nighttime payloads with thermal imagers, plus the family's operational role. | Accessed: 2026-06-27UAS A1-CM Furia was adopted by the Armed Forces of UkrainePublisher: Athlon Avia | Note: Supports the 2020 Armed Forces of Ukraine adoption and notes that the system had already been procured for the AFU and the National Guard before formal adoption. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Furia (Fury) UAVPublisher: GlobalSecurity.org | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War operational use by Furia-equipped Ukrainian units after the February 2022 invasion, plus technical details and manufacturer context. | Accessed: 2026-06-20One of the first reconnaissance drones: Museum of Military Technologies replenished with Furia UAVPublisher: Mezha / Oboronka | Note: Supports current Ukrainian frontline use, artillery fire-control role, and updated A1-SM endurance/range context from Ukrainian defense-industry reporting. | Accessed: 2026-06-20UAS A1-CM Furia on training camps | Athlon AviaPublisher: Athlon Avia | Note: Supports the 2021 live-fire training-camp context in which Furia supported artillery units in the southern direction. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Athlon-Avia A1-CM Furia (Fury) - War Wings DailyPublisher: War Wings Daily | Note: Supports the nighttime thermal-imaging payload specification for the A1-CM Furia, including the 35 mm athermal lens, 2-axis gyrostabilization, 2.4x digital zoom, and onboard video recording. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Ukrainian Drone Manufacturer Modifying Old Systems for Modern WarPublisher: National Defense Magazine | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War use of the Furia family by Ukrainian forces as an artillery adjustment and target-designation UAV during the full-scale invasion. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Drones, the Russo-Ukrainian War, and the Future of Armed ConflictPublisher: University of Copenhagen | Note: Contains a military-grade drone cost table that lists the Athlon Avia A1-CM Furia at about $25,000. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Upgraded Furia reconnaissance drone will have night optics and 100 km rangePublisher: Ukrainska Pravda | Note: Supports the 2025 modernization, including night optics, the 100 km target range, and continued service of earlier Furia systems with artillery units. | Accessed: 2026-06-27File: Furia ACM130103.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Primary image provenance; the file page identifies the image as a Furia at the 2017 Arms and Security exhibition and lists CC BY-SA 4.0 / GFDL licensing. | Accessed: 2026-06-20File: UAV Atlon-Avia 04.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Gallery image provenance; the file page identifies an Athlon Avia UAV and lists CC BY-SA 4.0 licensing. | Accessed: 2026-06-20