Ukraine Ramping Up Production of FPV Drones and Long-Range UAVs, Expert Says
Ukraine is reaching a new technological level and is increasing the production of FPV drones and long-range drones, said Viktor Yahun, director of the Security Sector Reform Agency and national security expert.
The Gaze reports on this with reference to the broadcast of the FREEDOM TV channel.
According to Yahun, Ukraine has increased the production of drones to more than 2 million units per year.
‘In terms of drone production, we have reached parameters that are simply unique. Earlier we talked about a million drones a year, and now we have already reached more than 2 million units. We are talking about small drones. There has also been a breakthrough in the production of long-range drones,’ he said.
However, according to the speaker, there are still problems with ammunition and a shortage of components, including explosives. Ukraine also needs to strengthen its air defence.
‘Our biggest problem is ammunition. The problems are not only in the production of ammunition, but also in the production of components for ammunition, such as gunpowder. In order to avoid dependence on external suppliers, Ukraine is actively working on this issue with our partners in the UK and Germany,’ Yahun said.
Another problem, the expert said, is the lack of domestic production of artillery barrels.
‘We also have serious problems with the supply of artillery. We are very dependent on our partners. And we need not so much artillery systems, but rather consumables, especially barrels. For example, at the start of active hostilities, there were one or two machines in the country that produced barrels. They were made in Kramatorsk for Bogdan self-propelled artillery systems. There was no possibility to create barrels for the artillery that we later received from our American and European partners,’ Yahun commented.
According to the speaker, Ukraine needs to develop the production of ammunition, mortar shells and artillery shells.
As The Gaze reported earlier, in 2024, the head of the Turkish company Baykar, Haluk Bayraktar, confirmed that construction is already underway in Ukraine, near Kyiv, for a plant to produce Bayraktar drones in accordance with agreements reached between the two countries.