Smetanin highlighted that several agreements with private manufacturers, primarily for licensed production, have catalyzed this advancement. "Due to the inability of private enterprises to meet the high production demands, licensing agreements are signed, and Ukroboronprom's facilities are then utilized to scale up production," he explained.
The production leap has enabled Ukraine not only to meet domestic demands but also to maintain parity with Russian drone production capabilities. "This year, we have reached a production level comparable to Russia in terms of kamikaze drones and other attack drones," Smetanin stated.
This update aligns with statements from Oleksandr Kamyshin, the Minister of Strategic Industries, who previously noted, "what is exploding in Russia is all ours."
The initiative is part of a broader effort involving numerous private developers and scientists working on innovative weaponry. "There are cutting-edge developments, and there are those that are geared towards the needs of tomorrow," added Smetanin.
To support these efforts, the Cabinet of Ministers has allocated an additional 15.5 billion hryvnias for drone purchases. These funds, managed by the State Special Communications Administration, will equip the Security and Defense Forces with 300,000 drones, supplementing the 43.3 billion hryvnias already designated for drone procurement this year.
