Among the 1,300 new models of weapons and military equipment developed and codified since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the largest category consists of UAVs and their ammunition.
Ukraine’s First Deputy Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Ivan Havryliuk, stated this in an interview with Ukrinform.
Over the past year alone, more than 250 new types of UAVs, designed for various purposes, have been approved for use on the front lines.
“In terms of FPV drone production, Ukraine currently surpasses the Russian Federation. The drone sector in Ukraine is developing at a breakthrough pace, both in terms of innovation and manufacturing. Since February 24, 2022, more than 1,300 new models of weapons and military equipment produced by Ukrainian enterprises have been codified for the Defense Forces. The largest category among them is UAVs and their ammunition. Last year alone, more than 250 new UAV models were approved for use in the Defense Forces. However, it is important to understand that the key factor is not just the number of drones developed and manufactured,” Havryliuk said.
He stressed that the most crucial aspects are the efficiency of their deployment and the speed at which developers can respond to changing battlefield conditions.
“You could have hundreds of thousands of drones, but they would be powerless against the enemy’s countermeasures. In the drone sector, within a span of one to three months, the effectiveness of a particular model can decline. It is essential to continuously find new ways to maintain efficiency,” Havryliuk said.
He added that the technological “duel” between drone manufacturers and electronic warfare developers is a vivid illustration of this dynamic. The advantage belongs to those whose engineers can quickly propose technological solutions that leave the enemy without an immediate countermeasure.
Source: Ukraine surpasses Russia in FPV drone production – General Havryliuk
