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Kosovo Conducts First Long-Range Strike Test of Skifteri K1 Kamikaze Drone With 1,124 km Reach.
Kosovo has conducted what it describes as its first long-range strike test of the domestically developed Skifteri K1 kamikaze drone, demonstrating a claimed reach of 1,124 kilometers. If validated, the test signals a significant shift in Kosovo’s indigenous defense capabilities and its ambitions in unmanned strike technology.
On 18 January 2026, footage and photographs released by Kosovar defense entrepreneur Ridvan Aliu drew international attention to Kosovo’s emerging unmanned strike ambitions. The material documents what is presented as a complete long-range mission profile, culminating in a live strike by a domestically developed kamikaze drone designated Skifteri K1. In his accompanying statement, Aliu said the test demonstrated an ability to engage targets at distances exceeding 1,000 kilometers, a range typically associated with strategic unmanned strike systems rather than tactical loitering munitions.
Footage released on 18 January 2026 by Kosovar defense entrepreneur Ridvan Aliu shows a live-strike test of Kosovo’s domestically developed Skifteri K1 kamikaze drone, with a claimed strike range of 1,124 km (Picture Source: Ridvan Aliu)
According to performance figures shared publicly by Aliu, the Skifteri K1 completed a flight of 1,124 kilometers, remaining airborne for seven hours and twelve minutes while carrying a 42-kilogram armed payload. In his statement accompanying the release of the footage, Aliu said the test was conducted by one of the company’s clients and described the video as showing a live strike. He also noted that certain visual elements of the footage had been altered, including inversion and night-vision-style filters, for operational security reasons linked to the test conditions.
The Skifteri K1, also referred to as “Falcon,” is presented as the longest-range combat drone developed to date in Kosovo and the most ambitious loitering munition publicly associated with the country. Developed by Skifteri Drones, the system is described as a long-endurance, one-way strike platform designed for deep standoff missions against fixed or high-value targets. At this stage, all performance data available in open sources originate from developer statements relayed by regional and international media, with no independent telemetry or third-party verification released.
Video material published on YouTube and redistributed by regional news agencies shows the drone launched from a ground-based ramp, followed by extended cruise-phase footage and terminal dive imagery captured from multiple onboard perspectives. Although no independent geolocation data or external tracking information has been made public to confirm the precise flight path or impact location, the continuity and structure of the footage are broadly consistent with the duration and strike profile described by Aliu. This suggests the demonstration was intended as a full-range operational test rather than a partial flight or simulated trial.
Analysis of publicly available imagery suggests that the Skifteri K1 features a fixed-wing airframe with a rear-mounted pusher propeller, a configuration commonly used on long-endurance loitering munitions. The propulsion system is not identified, though its layout is consistent with small internal-combustion engines typically employed for extended-range unmanned flight. Visual assessment of the footage indicates a medium-sized platform, with proportions broadly comparable to other long-range one-way attack drones in service elsewhere. The airframe appears to make extensive use of lightweight materials, likely composites, in line with design approaches intended to maximize range and endurance. No officially confirmed data on maximum takeoff weight or internal mass distribution has been released, and any such estimates remain speculative based solely on imagery.
Navigation is assessed to rely on a GPS and inertial navigation system using pre-programmed waypoints for long-distance routing, with terminal guidance likely supported by electro-optical sensors to enable final target acquisition and impact accuracy. Albanian-language reporting linked to earlier public remarks about a K1 suicide-drone variant cited cruise speeds of up to 180 km/h and an operational ceiling of around 2,500 meters, although it remains unclear whether these figures directly apply to the configuration used during the 18 January long-range test.
Beyond its technical characteristics, the Skifteri K1 reflects the broader emergence of a domestic drone ecosystem in Kosovo. Recent reporting indicates that the country is producing or developing at least four types of unmanned aerial systems spanning reconnaissance, surveillance and strike roles. Within this context, the K1 stands out as the most mature strike-oriented platform to have been publicly demonstrated with extended endurance and live-fire footage, marking a notable step in Kosovo’s defense-industrial development.
While key aspects of the Skifteri K1’s performance remain based on developer claims rather than independently verified data, the reported 1,124-kilometer flight, prolonged endurance and confirmed live-strike footage indicate that the system goes beyond a conceptual prototype. The Skifteri K1 signals Kosovo’s intent to enter the long-range unmanned strike domain with a platform already demonstrated publicly and positioned for international clients, making it a capability that regional actors and NATO observers are likely to monitor closely in the coming years.
Written by Teoman S. Nicanci – Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Teoman S. Nicanci holds degrees in Political Science, Comparative and International Politics, and International Relations and Diplomacy from leading Belgian universities, with research focused on Russian strategic behavior, defense technology, and modern warfare. He is a defense analyst at Army Recognition, specializing in the global defense industry, military armament, and emerging defense technologies.