The main shortfall for Ukraine’s defense industry: weapons manufacturers name their primary supplier of components
6 June 14:12
Ukrainian arms manufacturers are increasing the localization of their production, but they still depend on imported components, some of which are now in short supply. This is reported in an article by RBC-Ukraine, as cited by "Komersant Ukrainian".
According to representatives of the defense industry who were interviewed, depending on the company, the share of components from China can still reach up to 40%. At the same time, Ukrainian companies are actively working on localizing production, although not all necessary components can currently be manufactured domestically.
As noted by Boris Budeyansky, director of the technology company BlueBird Tech, the key problem remains not only the availability of parts but also the stability of their supply.
“For the war, it is critically important that components can be obtained not just once, but systematically and in large volumes,” he explained.
General Chereshnya also emphasizes that predictability of supply is crucial for manufacturers, as production rates and order fulfillment depend on it.
Which components are in the shortest supply
Among the most scarce items, manufacturers cite microelectronics, GNSS navigation modules and inertial systems, sensors, optical equipment, and thermal imaging sensors.
The situation with battery systems and specialized chips for flight control and stabilization also remains challenging.
NAUDI Executive Director Serhiy Goncharov reported that the shortage of fiber-optic cable is particularly acute for drone manufacturers. It is not produced in Ukraine, and global prices for such products have risen significantly due to demand from the defense industry and the development of data centers.
In addition, certain types of explosives remain in short supply and must also be imported.
Why this is a problem for production
Industry experts explain that for drone manufacturers, the ability to consistently obtain the same components in the required quantities over the long term is critical.
Even replacing a single component often requires retesting the product, adapting the software, and reconfiguring production processes, which can affect production speed.
Watch us on YouTube: important topics – without censorship
