Ukraine could produce up to 20 million drones a year: the Ministry of Defense has outlined the condition
3 June 06:55
The Ukrainian defense industry is capable of producing up to 20 million drones annually, as well as thousands of missiles for deep strikes and air defense. This was stated by Mstislav Banik, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Defense, during an online address at the Spring Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, which took place in Lithuania this year, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
The Ministry of Defense emphasized that, provided adequate funding, these production capacities could be fully operational within a few months. That is why Ukraine is urging international partners not to delay investments in domestic defense production and critically important weaponry.
According to Mstislav Banik, it is now of fundamental importance for Ukraine to procure precisely those weapons and military equipment that can be delivered to the front lines as early as this year. Against this backdrop, Ukrainian industry, as emphasized by the Ministry of Defense, possesses unique production capabilities that allow for scaling up the production of drones and missiles.
The ministry specifically noted that this applies not only to drones but also to thousands of missiles for two purposes: deep strikes against enemy targets and air defense. This is one of the key messages Ukraine conveyed to NATO parliamentarians.
What areas of support did Ukraine identify as priorities?
During his speech, Banik called on partners to promptly increase support for Ukraine in several key areas. Among them, the Ministry of Defense cited funding for the supply of air defense systems and other critical weapons through the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), the procurement of missiles for Patriot systems, the procurement of long-range 155-mm artillery ammunition under the Czech initiative, as well as direct funding for the production of Ukrainian drones and missiles.
Thus, Ukraine is effectively proposing that its partners invest not only in the supply of finished weapons but also in scaling up the Ukrainian defense industry, which can yield rapid results even in the short term.
Why drones have become a key focus
The Ministry of Defense also cited the effectiveness of Ukrainian innovations on the battlefield. According to Banik, thanks to middle-strike drones, the Ukrainian military carries out about 5,000 strikes each month at ranges exceeding 20 kilometers, working to disrupt Russian logistics deep within enemy territory.
This means that drones have long since ceased to be merely auxiliary and have become one of the system-defining tools of modern warfare. That is precisely why Ukraine is betting on the mass production of UAVs as one of the fastest ways to strengthen the front lines.
How much aid does Ukraine want to receive
In addition to calling for funding for specific production sectors, Banik stated the need for additional bilateral financing, which, together with the EU loan, will help reach the target of $60 billion in aid this year.
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