Ukraine has become "drone superpower" and produces 4 million UAVs per year – Bloomberg

Ukraine has become a "drone superpower", meeting the needs of the front line and expanding its presence on international markets. Ukrainian companies now produce four million drones of various types every year.

Source: Bloomberg

Details: Bloomberg noted that these include both inexpensive FPV drones and long-range strike UAVs. By comparison, the United States manufactures about 100,000 military drones per year.

"It's not just the quantity of drones, it's the variety. Probably more than all NATO countries combined right now," said RAND analyst Michael Bohnert.

Some Ukrainian drone manufacturers have entered the EU market. For example, Skyeton has opened a facility in Slovakia and has announced partnerships with Denmark and the United Kingdom. The company produces reconnaissance drones capable of remaining airborne for up to 24 hours.

Another domestic company, TSIR, is currently operating in Finland, where it is preparing to launch a UAV production line. It plans to produce drones for NATO in the future.

Much, however, depends on funding. The FlyWell consortium, which unites several Ukrainian drone manufacturers, plans to raise around US$50 million to finance additional European production and research projects, including one that would use hydrogen cells to power drones. Locating production in Europe would also ensure greater safety, keeping facilities out of Russia's reach.

New solutions are also being developed by European companies. Finnish firm Summa Defence is self-funding its work and has already built prototypes of three models that could enter mass production immediately after testing in Ukraine. Some of these drones will go to NATO countries, but Ukraine remains the priority.

Background: Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine is set to begin mass production of a new drone model positioned as an alternative to the widely used Chinese-made Mavic. He said an alternative has been found, although details of the new drones have not yet been disclosed.

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