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Ukraine Set to Produce 1.5 Million Drones This Year, with Focus on FPV Models – Military Expert

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Illustrative photo: an FPV drone equipped with an explosive is tested for performance / Photo credit: 108th Territorial Defense Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Illustrative photo: an FPV drone equipped with an explosive is tested for performance / Photo credit: 108th Territorial Defense Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Military expert and editor-in-chief of Defense Express, Oleh Katkov, believes that producing 1.5 million drones is a realistic goal for Ukraine, which has the capabilities to achieve it

He shared his opinions on Espreso TV.

"Drone manufacturers and government officials have indicated that Ukraine can produce more drones. Out of the 1.5 million, 80-90% will be FPV (first-person view) drones, and we need a large quantity of them. The videos showing targets being destroyed by FPV drones are not the result of just one launch. It’s important to consider that the enemy has electronic warfare capabilities and other defenses.

Read more: ​Ukrainian Intelligence Unit Precisely Destroys russian Msta-S Artillery System with FPV Drones (Video)
Illustrative photo: an FPV drone equipped with an explosive is tested for performance / Photo credit: 108th Territorial Defense Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Of course, larger drones like the DJI Matrice and Baba Yaga heavy multicopters will be produced in smaller numbers. Reconnaissance drones, such as Furia or Leleka, will be even fewer. This is the typical breakdown, but they all fall under the category of drones. Additionally, ground combat platforms like Magura should probably also be included in this drone category, though their numbers will be limited.

FPV drones are the most popular, so when we talk about 1.5 million drones, a significant portion will indeed be FPV models,” Katkov explained.

However, the military expert emphasized that China is the primary supplier of components.

"A significant portion of these millions of drones, particularly FPV drones, consists of 90% or more Chinese components, including boards, motors, cameras, communication systems, and even wiring. While Ukraine does produce some components for FPV drones, it's important to recognize that the main supplier is China, where these parts are purchased in bulk and then assembled in Ukraine. Our capacity for producing electronic components and boards, particularly chips and microelectronics, is quite limited," he added.

Read more: russian Anti-Aircraft FPV Drone's First Known Attack Fails: Furia UAS Survives (Video)