Ukraine must produce 400,000 drones monthly to compete with Russia – Shmyhal
Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal (photo: Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal stated that in order to compete with Russia in the field of drones, Ukraine would have to produce at least 400,000 drones every month. This is a new war, where technology has changed the very understanding of combat operations, he said in an interview with The Times.
Shmyhal emphasized that Russia sends hundreds of drones to Ukrainian territory every day, using them to strike both military and civilians, causing large-scale losses and destruction.
"This new war is absolutely another kind of war," the minister said.
He also noted that both Ukraine and Russia are already using drones capable of destroying the enemy without direct participation of an operator.
Shmyhal stressed that in cooperation with European partners Ukraine can create new types of weapons and immediately test them in real war conditions.
Over the next 12 months the United Kingdom will finance thousands of long-range kamikaze drones that Ukraine will produce for its military.
Earlier, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi stated that the Russians are copying the successful technologies of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in particular in the field of interceptor drones. He emphasized that in the development of drones there is a real technological race.
Analysis of the wreckage of downed Shaheds shows that the enemy is increasingly using equipment with mesh modems and course cameras. This opens the possibility of making drones more controllable and turning them into FPV drones.
In addition, last year Russia equipped Shahed kamikaze drones with Starlink satellite communication.
