Flying nonstop for over two days: inside Penguin drones supporting Ukrainian forces at front

Contents

1. What is the Penguin UAV and how was it developed

2. Key information about the Penguin UAV

3. Technical specifications of the Penguin UAV

4. Flight range of the Penguin UAV

What is the Penguin UAV and how was it developed

In July 2023, the U.S. Department of Defense announced a new $800 million security assistance package for Ukraine. Alongside ammunition for Patriot and HIMARS systems, 155-mm howitzers, Bradley IFVs, and other equipment, the package included Penguin unmanned aerial systems.

Additionally, in the summer of 2023, Ukraine announced the procurement of these drones. Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister for Innovation Mykhailo Fedorov stated that funds raised through United24’s Drone Army initiative had been used to purchase them. By July 2023, 500 UAVs had been ordered, and by September, that number had grown to 1,740. The Penguin drones were among those acquired.

“Among the UAVs are Penguin MK-2 systems, which transmit data via encrypted digital channels, making them reliably protected against interference,” wrote Minister Fedorov.

The Penguin drones were developed by the Latvian company UAV Factory. The company’s founder, Konstantin Popik, had an early interest in model aircraft and later studied aviation engineering at Liverpool University. In 2009, Popik established UAV Factory, which, in the same year, developed and sold two UAV models with dimensions of 3x3 meters. These served as the foundation for the Penguin B drone. Remarkably, the entire product — including the aircraft and its optics — was developed in Latvia.

In September 2021, UAV Factory merged with the U.S.-based Jennings Aeronautics, forming the international company Edge Autonomy, headquartered in California with offices in the U.S., Canada, and Latvia. The company now supplies products to over 60 countries.

Key information about the Penguin UAV

Edge Autonomy’s products have been used in various fields requiring aerial observation, including universities, agriculture, and search-and-rescue operations. However, recent priorities have shifted to military applications.

The military can use these drones for surveillance, object tracking, detecting small moving targets, and gathering intelligence. Equipped with a powerful electro-optical camera with 15x zoom mounted under the central fuselage section, the Penguin is capable of operating in all weather conditions — even in winds up to 55 km/h — and at any time of day. The drone can be controlled from distances of up to 180 km.

The basic Penguin MK-2 system includes the drone itself (with an infrared turret camera), a ground control station, and a MIMO antenna. Thermal imaging equipment can also be added if needed.

The drone is made using special carbon composite fiber, making it both lightweight (32 kg) and durable. Its battery can be replaced in under two minutes.

“It’s essentially a tiltrotor — a combination of UAV, drone, and helicopter. It can take off from any flat surface without needing a catapult or runway,” explained Pavlo Narozhnyi, founder of the NGO Reactive Mail.

Thanks to its rapid takeoff and landing capabilities, the Penguin system is versatile and can be used for various military purposes, including fire control, search-and-rescue missions, and infrastructure damage assessment.

The Penguin UAV is equipped with Aeroflow technology, which allows its propellers to fold during flight, conserving up to 20% of its power.

Technical specifications of the Penguin UAV

The Penguin comes in several variants, with the primary model being the Penguin C. It has a wingspan of over 4 meters and can stay airborne for over 12 hours. Its takeoff and landing are fully automated, requiring no runway. For emergency landings, it is equipped with a parachute system.

Penguin C

• Wingspan: 4.12 m
• Flight duration: 12+ hours
• Flight range: up to 180 km
• Maximum altitude: 5 km
• Weight: 32 kg
• Speed: up to 120 km/h

The Penguin B is slightly smaller, offering greater maneuverability. It features reinforced landing gear, a large fuel tank, a high-efficiency fuel-injected engine (or electric motor), and modular attachments that allow for payloads exceeding 20 kg (in addition to a base payload of 4.5 kg). It is launched via a pneumatic catapult.

Penguin B

• Wingspan: 3.3 m
• Flight duration: 20+ hours
• Flight range: 180+ km
• Maximum altitude: 4 km
• Maximum takeoff weight: 20+ kg
• Speed: 110 km/h

Flight range of the Penguin UAV

The manufacturer guarantees a flight range of 180 km, classifying the Penguin as a reconnaissance drone. However, it is likely that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are modifying these drones to suit specific needs.

For example, Russian propaganda showcased a Penguin drone reportedly repurposed as a kamikaze UAV, which had allegedly been downed in Kalmykia — at least 300 km from the frontline.

Notably, the 25-hour operational limit stated by the manufacturer is not the drone’s maximum capability. In 2012, the Penguin B set a world record by flying non-stop for 54 hours and 27 minutes, enduring temperatures above 30°C and wind speeds of 20 m/s.

Eight years later, UAV Factory attempted to break this record but faced complications. During a test flight, contact with the 26-kg drone was lost at an altitude of 200 meters while it was traveling at 70 km/h. With 90 hours’ worth of fuel onboard, the incident forced Latvian airspace to be temporarily closed to avoid potential collisions.

Nonetheless, record-breaking distances are not essential for effective use by the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

“This is a very capable operational-tactical UAV that can greatly assist reconnaissance and artillery operations. I doubt it would fly 150 km beyond the frontline, but even 50–60 km would yield excellent results for precision long-range artillery,” said Pavlo Narozhnyi.