Ukraine plans to create million combat drones this year - WSJ
Ukraine is increasing the production of FPV drones capable of partially replacing artillery (photo: Getty Images)
Ukraine plans to increase the production of FPV drones to 1 million units in 2024, utilizing small clandestine workshops scattered across the country. The move comes as a response to the lack of defense funding from the U.S. and the shortage and high cost of artillery and missile systems, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The Wall Street Journal notes that Ukraine is seeking to offset the shortage of ammunition caused by the absence of military aid from the U.S. This involves the creation of a million-strong army of explosive drones with FPV functionality.
The article highlights that Ukraine cannot currently produce artillery and missile systems on the necessary scale. It would take years and billions of dollars to achieve this capability.
Instead, the focus is on producing drones that can be assembled from commercially available components, each costing a few hundred dollars. Self-made workshops are emerging across Ukraine, producing thousands of FPV drones every month.
One such enterprise, employing around 20 people, can manufacture approximately 3,000 FPV drones monthly. Plans are underway to increase production to 10,000 drones per month shortly.
Production of FPV drones in Ukraine
Defense Minister Rustem Umerov has announced that Ukraine plans to produce hundreds of thousands of various types of drones this year.
Major General of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Dmytro Marchenko, emphasized that it is impossible to fully replace artillery with drones since artillery performs tasks that most FPV drones cannot handle. However, according to him, drones are currently partially mitigating the shortage of ammunition and effectively performing tasks at short distances from the enemy.
Previously, the former head of Roscosmos, Dmitry Rogozin, stated that the front line in the western part of Zaporizhzhia region buzzes like a beehive due to the large number of Ukrainian drones that systematically and accurately target objectives, complicating the rotation of Russian personnel.
Read also about the number of missiles and drones launched by Russia against Ukraine since the beginning of the year.
