Ukrainian drones made up over 96% of UAVs military used in 2024, defense minister says
Ukrainian drones accounted for over 96% of all unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) used by the military in 2024, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said on Dec. 28.
Kyiv has ramped up domestic drone production over the past year. Various aerial, naval, and ground drones have been developed and often successfully used for reconnaissance, combat, and other tasks throughout the full-scale with Russia.
The drone industry "reached unprecedented production volumes" in 2024, Umerov said in a Facebook post. Domestically produced drones accounted for 96.2% of all UAVs used by Ukrainian forces this year.
Ukraine manufactured over 1.5 million first-person-view (FPV) drones in 2024, Umerov said.
Ukrainian enterprises also produced reconnaissance drones, kamikaze aircraft, copter-bombers, and long-range drones, he added.
"Such figures indicate a new level of efficiency in the interaction between the state and Ukrainian UAV manufacturers," Umerov said.
President Volodoymyr Zelensky said in December 2023 that Ukraine aimed to produce one million drones in the coming year. In April 2024, Kyiv launched the Brave1 government initiative to invest in defense tech innovations.
Ukraine in recent months has championed the development of long-range "missile-drones," upgraded UAVs with turbojet engines that can act as alternatives to cruise missiles. Kyiv unveiled its Palianytsia and Peklo hybrids in the second half of 2024.
Zelensky has said Ukraine aims to produce at least 30,000 long-range drones next year.
Kollen Post
Related posts:
Russian drone strikes surge, passing air defenses even into downtown Kyiv
Inside Ukraine’s kitchen drone labs halting Russia’s war advance
Russia’s military collapse by 2026: Ukraine’s intelligence assessment
Ukraine war latest: US announces new aid package; Ukrainian drones target oil depot in Russia's Stavropol Krai
Ukraine war latest: Russia sets goal to fully occupy 4 Ukrainian regions in 2025
Yes, Ukraine can win the war – ex-minister decodes victory plan
Dutch Defense Minister Brekelmans: ‘F-16s now used only for defense, offensive operations require more training’
Ukraine expands military robotics capability with major procurement of unmanned ground vehicles
About The Author
