Ukrainian manufacturers are currently producing drones (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles – UAVs) at an increased rate, surpassing the procurement budgets allocated by Kyiv.
A simple small FPV drone, worth just a few hundred dollars can take out tanks and missile systems worth tens of millions of dollars. Image credit: АрміяInform via Wikimedia (CC BY 4.0)
This interesting fact was disclosed by Ukraine’s technology minister, Mykhailo Fedorov.
As the demand for drones has outpaced the available funding, Fedorov emphasized the need to secure additional financing, expand markets, and encourage competition to reduce prices. The minister also highlighted the importance of fostering local production through localization efforts.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, have become integral to modern military operations due to their versatile capabilities. Drones offer real-time aerial surveillance and reconnaissance, aiding in intelligence gathering and battlefield assessment without endangering human lives.
Fedorov has been a proponent of utilizing drones in Ukraine’s defense against the Russian invasion, emphasizing their strategic role since the conflict’s early stages.
UAVs have been widely used by both Ukraine and Russia in the 22-month war, providing armies with constant eyes in the sky and allowing them to destroy into targets hundreds of times the drone’s value, such as air defence systems and advanced radars.
Aerial vehicles are the most commonly used type of drone, although sea and land-borne devices are also being deployed.
According to the minister, there are now about 200 companies in Ukraine making drones, and approximately 70 local firms have now signed contracts to supply drones to the state.
One of the key advantages of UAVs is their ability to maintain persistent presence over an area, facilitating continuous surveillance and quick responses to emerging threats. Cost-effectiveness, adaptability across various sizes and configurations, and reduced risk to personnel are important features that make UAVs valuable assets in military strategies.
Written by Alius Noreika