In early 2025, Finland will start mass production of drones for Ukraine and the EU
29 November 2024 12:16
The Finnish defense concern Summa Defense Ltd has announced its intention to build a plant for the serial production of drones in Finland together with Ukrainian partners. This is stated in a statement by the defense concern Summa Defense Ltd, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
The start of mass production of UAVs is scheduled for the first half of 2025.
It is noted that the main goal of the new company is to rapidly expand the capacity for the production of drones used in the war in Ukraine, as well as to launch their mass production in Finland and Europe.
“The demand for drone technology and capabilities is high. Drones will be supplied not only to Ukraine but also to the EU and NATO countries. Drones will become a permanent part of society, playing a vital role in critical societal functions in the civilian, defense and security sectors,” said Jussi Holopainen, CEO of Summa Defense Ltd.
What is known about the joint Finnish-Ukrainian project
The first drone manufacturing plant is a strategic investment for which Summa Defense Oy will establish a subsidiary, Summa Drones Ltd. Summa Drones will then set up a joint venture in Finland with its Ukrainian partners, in which Summa Drones will have a controlling stake. The joint venture involves Ukrainian drone manufacturers: Kort, Elf Systems, Skyassist and MPS Development. In addition to manufacturing aerial drones, Summa Drones will also produce ground and maritime drones.
The Finnish defense concern Summa Defense aims to bring together participants in the defense and security sector to create a strong growth-oriented company, focusing on dual-use technologies related to situational awareness, mobility and protection.
How Ukrainian arms manufacturers cooperate with foreign partners
Currently, more than 10 European defense companies have an open representative office or joint production in Ukraine. Oleksandr Kamyshyn, Advisor to the President of Ukraine on Strategic Issues, announced this in mid-November at the annual general meeting of the European Business Association.
“We have more than 10 European companies that have something in common in Ukraine in various forms: either an open representative office or an open joint production. In different forms, but it is more than 10 companies. And there are only three German companies,” Kamyshin said.
At the beginning of this summer, a joint production site of Ukroboronprom and Rheinmetall, an armored vehicle repair and production shop, was launched in Ukraine. It became the first project implemented within the partnership between Ukroboronprom and the German defense giant. The concern also plans to start production of Lynx infantry fighting vehicles by the end of the year.
In an interview with Reuters two weeks ago, First Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko also said that British company BAE Systems, Franco-German company KDNS, defense and aerospace company Babcock, and MyDefence, a company specializing in anti-drone technology, have teamed up with Ukrainian manufacturers and opened local offices. And the German arms manufacturer Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft is building a service center in Ukraine together with a private Ukrainian arms manufacturer.
The development of domestic defense production has given a boost to the economy as a whole, which is still lagging behind pre-war levels despite two years of growth. According to Yulia Svyrydenko, in the first half of 2024, the arms production sector accounted for 1.8% of the country’s gross domestic product, compared to 0.3% in 2021.
