Ukraine says it is ready to up its production capacities and reach a million FPV drones made in a single year.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenksyy during the press conference where he discussed the plans of his country to significantly increase the production of military FPV drones. Image credit: Office of the President of Ukraine
These plans were announced on Wednesday by Ukraine’s minister for strategic industries. He said the country plans to manufacture one million FPV (first-person-view) drones, which are highly sought after on the front line.
Additionally, the country aims to produce over 11,000 medium- and long-range attack drones in the coming year.
Since the initial days of the 2022 Russian invasion, Ukraine has extensively utilized FPV drones—originally designed for personal civilian use but adapted for military purposes—as a cost-effective and efficient option for reconnaissance and attacks.
This strategy has been adopted by Moscow’s forces, and it is currently estimated that they have a significant number of such drones at their disposal.
Oleksandr Kamyshin, the minister, stated on Telegram messenger, “All production facilities are ready, and contracting for 2024 begins.” He also mentioned that the production target includes at least 1,000 drones with a range exceeding 1,000 km (600 miles).
FPV drones are controlled using goggles. Image credit: АрміяInform via Wikimedia (CC BY 4.0)
In his nightly video address, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy outlined plans to enhance logistics for quicker operations, emphasizing the efforts to optimize the utilization of drones, particularly FPV drones, across various sectors. He underscored the significance of this initiative as a clear priority for the country and a tangible means of safeguarding the lives of Ukrainian soldiers.
As part of its broader strategy, Ukraine has been actively working to boost domestic weapons production, aiming to ensure consistent supplies, reduce dependence on external assistance, and stimulate economic growth. Minister Kamyshin stated that the country is set to manufacture over 50,000 FPV drones in December, contributing to its goal of strengthening self-sufficiency in defense capabilities.
Written by Vytautas Valinskas