This is evidenced by the research "Ukrainian Drone Industry: Investments and Product Innovations" conducted by the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE) and the Brave1 cluster, reports the Ministry of Digital Transformation.
According to their estimates, last year, investments in the industry reached up to 5 million dollars, while this year, they are projected to be up to 50 million dollars. Meanwhile, the average investment size has increased from 500 thousand to 1-3 million dollars per year.
Currently, the production capacity is up to 4 million units, whereas in 2023, it was only about 300 thousand units.
In just 2.5 years, the drone industry in Ukraine has evolved from "small volunteer initiatives into a structured and competitive sector," points out Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov.
There is noticeable progress in the development of aerial, maritime, and ground drones, as well as in the creation of electronic warfare systems. Key trends include the use of computer vision, “swarming” technologies, and innovations in navigation and communication.
The Minister believes that Ukraine has a "huge potential" to become a leader in Defense Tech development globally.
“We currently need a technological advantage on the front, and after the war ends, the export of military developments could bring billions into the budget,” emphasized Fedorov.
President Volodymyr Zelensky during the final press conference of 2023 stated that in 2024, Ukraine plans to produce one million drones and increase artillery production.
Former Minister of Strategic Industries Oleksandr Kamyshin clarified that the one million drones announced by Zelensky for 2024 refers only to FPV drones. Additionally, there is the potential to produce over 10,000 strike drones of medium and long range.
By the end of May 2024, the head of the defense tech cluster Brave1, Natalia Kushnerska, mentioned that there are "already definitely one million drones" in Ukraine.
Later, Deputy Minister of Defense Dmytro Klymenkov shared in an interview with SMALL TALK that almost 100% of drones for the Defense Forces are currently produced in Ukraine, with the largest share coming from private businesses.
According to the Ministry of Strategic Industries, Ukraine has sufficient capacity to produce 3 million drones of various types annually. However, funding is needed.