Ukraine is considered a leader in drone technology. Experts are now discussing exports to western countries.
November 30, 2025, 05:19November 30, 2025, 05:19
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has long since become a high-tech war. Ukraine is countering the Russian attack with new drone investments. Now the country’s drone production exceeds even the needs of its own army. That is why Ukraine wants to sell its own drones abroad in the future.
A Ukrainian technician repairs a drone.Image: keystone
“We are already producing so many drones to export them,” the Kyiv Post newspaper quoted a drone manufacturer as saying. Accordingly, volunteers from Latvia and Lithuania are already being trained in Ukraine to handle Ukrainian drones.
Ukraine remains dependent on Western help in areas such as projectile ammunition and anti-aircraft missiles. However, the country is considered a global leader in drone development. “In Europe and the USA, local drone production is still in its infancy,” said Hryhoriy Schwerk from the Ukrainian drone manufacturer General Cherry to the Kyiv Post. “Ukrainian engineers optimize systems based on real-time feedback from the front,” says Schwerk.
According to estimates by the Bloomberg news agency, Ukraine produces around four million drones every year. The first Ukrainian weapons factory in western countries is set to go into operation in Denmark in the coming days. The fuel for the new “Flamingo” drone is produced there.
“Only 14 percent of drone manufacturers expect full utilization, while another 21 percent expect their systems to be utilized at just over half. Most companies therefore only use part of their capacities,” said Katherina Michalko from the “Tech Force in Ukraine” association to the “Kyiv Post”. She appeared open to drone exports or cooperation with foreign companies.
However, the Russian armed forces had recently caught up significantly in the technological competition. A separate anti-drone group, called Rubikon, tracks down the positions of Ukrainian drone pilots behind the lines. “It is easy to build drones, but drone pilots are difficult to replace,” the Financial Times newspaper recently quoted a member of the Ukrainian army as saying.
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