Drone coalition mobilizes over $2 billion to boost Ukraine's defense, ministry says
An allied initiative, co-headed by the U.K. and Latvia, was launched in January 2024.
drone production
German drone manufacturer Quantum Systems plans to double production in Ukraine
Quantum Systems, a German drone manufacturer operating two plants in Ukraine, plans to double its drone production in the country, Ukraine's Strategic Industries Ministry announced on Feb. 14.
10 Ukrainian drone makers to watch
In the three years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Ukraine has almost certainly become the largest producer of drones in the Western-aligned world. Early workshop tinkering on mainly commercial Chinese drones evolved into steadily more professional and massive production of domestic unmanned aerial systems (UAVs). The industry’s rapid
Ukraine to launch 'Drone Line' project to enhance battlefield operations
The project seeks to enhance combat effectiveness by expanding the use of drones within elite units of the Ground Forces and the State Border Guard Service.
Biden administration secretly funded Ukraine's drone industry, NYT reports
U.S. intelligence officers reportedly assisted in advancing Ukraine's drone capabilities, helping to design a new generation of drones intended to revolutionize modern warfare.
US looking into restricting or banning drones made by 'foreign adversaries,' including China, Russia
The Bureau of Industry and Security said on Jan. 2 that the involvement of foreign adversaries in "supply chains, including acute threats from China and Russia – may offer our adversaries the ability to remotely access and manipulate these devices, exposing sensitive U.S. data."
Ukrainian drones made up over 96% of UAVs military used in 2024, defense minister says
The domestic drone industry "reached unprecedented production volumes" in 2024, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said on Dec. 28.
How Ukraine’s new drone-missile hybrids are changing long-range weapon technology
Ukraine has turbo-charged its long-distance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), making “rocket-drones” to compete with cruise missiles or save the trouble of asking for more Western-made ranged weapons. President Volodymyr Zelensky’s administration has been showing off the latest results, with videos of the Peklo and Palianytsia missile-drones, which Ukrainian soldiers
'Mysterious' fire engulfs Russian Shahed warehouse, Ukrainian intelligence claims
A large-scale fire broke out at a Shahed drone warehouse at the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Russia's Tatarstan, destroying drone parts worth $16 million, Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) said on Dec. 23.
Ukraine delivered 200,000 domestically-produced drones to front-line units so far in December, Umerov says
The Ukrainian military has proven to be a pioneer in drone technology, using innovative ways to undermine Russia's material and numerical advantage.
EU imposes sanctions on Chinese companies, North Korean minister over Ukraine war
The EU imposed fully fledged sanctions on Dec. 16, including asset freezes and visa bans, on Chinese firms for supplying Russia's military for the war against Ukraine.
Ukraine possesses laser weapons, advanced drone technologies, commander says
Speaking on Dec. 16, Colonel Vadym Sukharevskyi said Ukraine’s laser system, called Tryzub, can down aircraft at altitudes exceeding 2 kilometers.
Ukraine produces almost 100 new Peklo missile-drones, media reports
Almost 100 of Ukraine's new Peklo missile-drone hybrids have been produced as the weapon entered serial production, Ukrainska Pravda reported on Dec. 16.
Ukraine builds drone parts at home as China weaponizes supply chain
Some 25 miles south of Ukraine's border with Russia, explosions rumble off in the distance more or less continuously. “We don’t even hear them anymore,” Zhenya chuckles from under first-person-view (FPV) goggles branded with the U.S. company “Fat Shark.” Zhenya and his co-developer for DragoDrones, or DCU, Maksym,
Ukraine’s drones have a reputation for low cost. Buntar Aerospace wants to make them boutique
The day Russia invaded Ukraine, Ivan Kaunov watched from his 23rd-floor Kyiv apartment in disbelief as rockets came down on his city. He was 30, married, and running a fintech startup that was seeing remarkable traction. The scion of a Kyivan family that had gotten wealthy on construction and IT,
Russia producing thermobaric drones, capable of causing 'terrifying' civilian harm, AP reports
Thermobaric warheads create a wave of high pressure and heat that is capable of penetrating thick walls, AP reported. The damage caused by thermobaric attack drones would cause damage that would be "simply terrifying" for civilian populations to endure, including collapsed lungs, crushed eyeballs, and brain damage, according to a source familiar with Russian drone production.
EU has 'convincing' evidence of reported Chinese attack drone production for Russia, media reports
"We have had reports from intelligence sources on the existence of a factory inside China producing drones which are shipped to Russia," a senior EU official told Politico on Nov. 15.
US to provide Ukraine with $800 million for drone production, Zelensky says
"Every meeting with our partners involves discussions about the defense-industrial complex," Zelensky said in his evening address. "We need Ukraine to be able to defend its sovereignty and independence regardless of any political threats in the world."
Netherlands pledges 400 million euros for Ukraine's drone initiative, more F-16s in coming months
During an unannounced visit to Kyiv on Oct. 6, Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans announced that the Netherlands will invest 400 million euros ($440 million) in a joint advanced drone development initiative with Ukraine.
Ukraine hits over 200 military targets in Russia using drones within a year, Umerov says
"Today, Ukrainian drones fly over 1,000 kilometers (623 miles), reaching Murmansk and the Volga region, destroying Russian oil refineries and airfields," Defense Minister Rustem Umerov wrote.
How drones are shaking up the air war in Ukraine
The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell spoke with Justin Bronk, a senior research fellow for airpower and technology at RUSI, about the evolving dynamics of airspace in Russia's war against Ukraine.
Ukraine launches new graduate program in drone development
The Digital Transformation Ministry is partnering with the Kyiv School of Economics to launch a master's program that will train drone development engineers to design, test, analyze, and improve UAVs.
Ukraine able to produce over 3 million drones a year, ministry says
Ukraine has the production capacity to produce more than 3 million drones a year, but requires financing from foreign partners, Deputy Strategic Industries Minister Hanna Hvozdiar said on July 30.
Government allows military units to produce aircraft
The Ukrainian government has allowed Ukrainian Armed Forces' units to launch their own aircraft production, Taras Melnychuk, the government's representative in the parliament, wrote on Telegram on June 21.
The birth of Ukraine's life-saving robots
Because of drones, every movement is observable and dangerous for combat medics. But Ukraine has a new technology ready to counter this problem: Land drones that evacuate the wounded.
Netherlands allocates 60 million euros for Ukrainian drone purchases
The Dutch government will provide 60 million euros ($64.4 million) to bolster Ukraine's aerial and naval drone purchasing and production, Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren announced on June 11.
Defense Ministry: Nearly all of Ukraine's drones domestically produced
Nearly 100% of drones Ukraine’s Armed Forces use in Russia’s war are developed domestically, Deputy Defense Minister Dmytro Klimenkov said on June 1.
WSJ: Russia aims to produce 6,000 Shahed-type drones a year in Tatarstan
Russia aims to reach the production level of 6,000 Shahed attack drones a year at the Alabuga facility, while the factory was already ahead of its production schedule in April.
Ukraine’s drone companies face ‘death, migration, or global acquisition’ amid defense spending squeeze
A surge of domestic drone companies in Ukraine has outpaced what the government budget can support, leading many companies to increasingly seek international partnerships or face consolidation. Drones have become a transformative part of Ukraine’s military strategy. The country’s ability to mass produce these cheap and effective weapons
Ukraine allocates funds for 300,000 drones
Ukraine has allocated a further Hr 15.5 billion ($391 million) to purchasing drones for the country's armed forces, enough to buy 300,000, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on April 30.
WSJ: Kharkiv manufacturer diversifies business, produces long-range drones
In a hangar tucked away in western Ukraine, several dozen workers are manufacturing long-range drones designed to meet surging demand as Ukraine ramps up a campaign of strikes deep inside Russian territory, according to the Wall Street Journal report.
Canada to donate nearly $12 million to Ukraine's drone production, Czech ammunition initiative
This is the first time Canada has directly contributed to the production of military drones in Ukraine.
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