Ukraine: Government starts domestic production of drones
The Ukrainian government has approved an experimental defense procurement project that will create better conditions for the domestic production of drones (UAVs) for a period of two years. This was reported by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov, quoted by Ukrinform. The adopted resolution is aimed at simplifying all bureaucratic procedures and creating favorable conditions for domestic manufacturers of UAVs to start mass production. “A truly historic decision was made that will significantly speed up the production and delivery of domestic drones to the front, and most importantly, create conditions for the rapid development of Ukrainian military technology. This will allow UAV manufacturers to develop, expand and reinvest profits and compete with foreign companies,” he said. Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov added that military-industrial independence is one of the factors of the country’s defense capability, noting that the Defense Ministry has already received requests from Ukrainian manufacturers for 75 UAVs of various types and has already concluded 16 state contracts with Ukrainian drone manufacturers. In 2023, the Ministry of Defense will increase procurement of UAVs for the Armed Forces of Ukraine and plans to allocate about 20 billion Ukrainian hryvnia (about 500,000 euros) for them.