Ukraine to produce thousands of long-range drones in 2024, Digital Transformation Minister says
Mykhailo Fedorov, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine (Photo: Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
In Ukraine, it is planned to manufacture thousands of long-range kamikaze drones in 2024. The production volumes of such weaponry are increasing according to a statement by Deputy Prime Minister for Innovation, Education, Science, and Technology Development - Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov, in an interview with Reuters.
"The category of long-range kamikaze drones is growing, with a range of 300, 500, 700, and 1,000 kilometres. Two years ago, this category did not exist ... at all," the minister says.
According to him, recent strikes on Russian oil facilities reflect the government's efforts to promote the production of long-range drones. Last year, as part of the BRAVE1 initiative, military technology startups were allocated about $2.5 million in grants, and this amount will increase tenfold in 2024.
At the same time, the vast majority of manufacturers are private. Fedorov notes that only one out of 10 companies whose drones can reach Moscow and St. Petersburg is state-owned.
Fedorov emphasizes that he agrees with the assessment of the Chief of the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov that Kyiv has reached a "certain kind of parity" with Moscow in the production of long-range drones.
"We need to act in an anti-bureaucratic way. This is the essence of a breakthrough in the war of technology. We are going to continue to put our bets on this, to work in this direction. Because technology can really save us," he says.
Production of drones in Ukraine
Ukraine is significantly increasing the production of drones, which are actively used in the war against Russian occupiers.
In particular, in 2024, it is planned to manufacture and deliver one million FPV drones to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. This was announced by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as early as December last year.
For more details on whether such a number of drones can change the situation on the front line, read the material by RBC-Ukraine.
