To reduce total dependency on international aid, particularly from the United States, Ukraine needs to take three steps to develop its own defense industry.
Viktor Taran, Head of the Kruk UAV Operators Training Center stated this in a column for Ukrinform.
“We need to review the state budget in search of these funds. To do this, it’s enough to do three simple things: cut non-priority expenditures and increase the military component; involve private businesses creating new manufacturing through state-private partnerships; and obtain technologies from allies (Britain, France, Germany, etc.), which will allow us not just to buy weapons, but to localize their production in Ukraine,” Taran emphasized.
Additionally, Taran believes that production must accelerate in the following directions: creating robotic combat platforms capable of performing tasks on land, sea, air, space, and underground; developing laser weapons; boosting potential in cyberspace and incorporating artificial intelligence into military operations.
“If Ukraine wants to become a military state of the new generation, it must start investing in these areas now,” Taran stressed.
He also noted that some areas remain beyond Ukraine’s technological capabilities. This mainly refers to long-range missiles like ATACMS, missile defense systems similar to Patriot, and strategic drones like the MQ-9 Reaper.
These areas will be difficult to address without support from allies.
However, Taran reminded that Ukraine has proven its ability to produce modern weapons. For instance, the Ukrainian Vilkha-M multiple rocket launcher, an analogue to HIMARS, which is capable of hitting targets up to 110 km away; kamikaze drones of the first and second classes (with around 100 different modifications) – effective UAVs capable of destroying targets from one to 1000 km away; the Bohdana self-propelled artillery system, a 155mm-caliber weapon already showing its effectiveness in combat; and the Kilchen air defense system, a promising Ukrainian air defense project that could rival NASAMS.
Furthermore, Ukraine independently manufactures and successfully uses systems for electronic warfare (EW) and radar electronic reconnaissance (RER), including the Bukovel, Anklav, and Nota complexes, which effectively counter enemy drones, communication, and navigation systems.
Taran also singled out the Al Petri EW system – a modern Ukrainian battalion-level system capable of jamming enemy communication signals and GPS coordinates, significantly disrupting drone and missile guidance.
According to Taran, Ukraine has already started producing 155mm shells, though the volume is still insufficient.
To compensate for American supplies, Ukraine must significantly ramp up production and establish joint ventures with European manufacturers. “Imagine a scenario: if the government directs more funds to scale these productions, by 2025, we could manufacture far more ammunition and equipment, reducing dependency on foreign supplies,” Taran concluded.
As reported by Ukrinform, on February 24, President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the need to increase the pace and volume of weapon production in Ukraine and Europe, particularly through investments in small Ukrainian private companies.
Photo: Ukroboronprom
Source: To compensate for U.S. aid, Ukraine must strengthen defense industry – expert
