Domestic defense industry on the rise: the state has contracted more than a million UAVs
26 March 17:37
In 2024, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine made a significant step in rearmament – the state signed contracts for the supply of more than 1.4 million unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to UA War Infographics.
This number is almost five times more than was purchased in 2023, when the volume of contracts amounted to approximately 300 thousand units.
What kind of drones are being purchased?
The new contracts are based on FPV drones, the so-called kamikaze drones, which are cheap, efficient and suitable for strikes on the front line. They can destroy enemy equipment, dugouts, and logistics routes with high accuracy.
In addition to FPV, the list includes:
- reconnaissance UAVs, which are used to adjust fire and collect data;
- barrage munitions – drones that can stay in the air for a long time waiting for a target.
Emphasis on Ukrainian production
All drones are purchased from domestic producers, which not only saves time and logistics but also stimulates the development of the national defense industry. In 2024, more than 90 companies authorized to manufacture UAVs have already been certified in Ukraine, compared to less than 20 a year ago.
This indicates the explosive growth of the drone market and the creation of a full-fledged military UAV industry in Ukraine.
Goals and strategy
The procurement of drones is part of Ukraine’s new military doctrine, which provides for
- massive use of autonomous systems at the tactical level (from platoon to brigade);
- reducing dependence on external suppliers;
- rapid adaptation of equipment to changes on the battlefield;
- high mobility and point fire advantage.
The program is being implemented as part of the Army of Drones initiative, which is funded by the state and supported by the volunteer sector and private business.
Context and significance
At a time when many countries are just beginning to experiment with the mass use of drones, Ukraine is already creating a whole “drone army” that is gradually changing the rules of warfare. Instead of expensive and vulnerable systems, we are using mobile, cheap, and effective solutions that produce results on the battlefield.
As the Minister of Defense noted:
“This is a new level of autonomous warfare. We are investing in what gives results today and shapes our advantage tomorrow,” Rustem Umerov said.
How many UAVs has Ukraine contracted in 2025?
As of March 2025, according to an official report by ArmyInform, Ukraine plans to contract up to 2 million UAVs in 2025.
Key details:
- As in 2024, the main emphasis is on FPV drones, which are actively used at the front as high-precision strike weapons.
- Reconnaissance drones, barrage munitions, and specialized drones for EW and EW are also a significant part of the order.
- More than 100 Ukrainian producers are involved in the program, and the share of local production is expected to grow to 95% of all deliveries.
These data indicate further scaling of the Army of Drones program and the systemic transformation of UAVs into a key element of Ukraine’s military doctrine. If you want, I can prepare a comparative table of contract dynamics for 2023-2025.
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