Posted on 09/06/2025 2:42:36 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
Kyiv says it needs all its drones for the battlefield, but manufacturers insist the foreign revenue from exports would let them expand their production.
KYIV — Foreign drone companies are swarming Ukraine, hoping to be a part of one of the most exciting unmanned vehicle production hubs in the world. There’s one problem: Ukraine’s drone makers are severely limited in exporting their production and know-how.
Drone use and production have skyrocketed in the war between Ukraine and Russia, now in its fourth year, because of these machines’ low cost and deadly effectiveness. The constant battle-testing has accelerated the pace of evolution for the drones, with changes taking place within weeks instead of years.
“The speed of innovation is so quick: It’s a six-week cycle and then it’s obsolete,” said a European diplomat who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. Ukraine’s drone market is “like a watering hole in the Serengeti — all are coming.”
For Western countries, who wish to avoid doing business with Russia, Ukrainian drones are the preferred choice. Among the most sought-after items are long-range attack drones, sea-born drones and drones with advanced electronic warfare capabilities, industry experts say.
Ukrainian drones in particular are adept at overcoming the electronic warfare countermeasures saturating the battlefield that foreign drone companies have yet to confront.
But selling Ukraine’s military production to outside buyers is extremely difficult because for a country at war, every piece of equipment is needed on the front lines, officials say. On paper, Ukrainian drone manufacturers are allowed to export their production, but in reality, this process is slow and bureaucratic.
“If NATO countries want the gold standard in drones, then they want Ukrainian drones,” said Alexander Fergusson, a British-based drone manufacturer who has...
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
I think most of the world will be more interested in buying from the winning side.
“Ukrainian drones are the gold standard“ - I think many potential buyers may prefer the Russian drones. The WaPo is now apparently in favor of weapons proliferation.
If the world wants them, it should go to source of those drones ... Alabama
They're waiting on parts from China.
it must be cutting edge science that the West could never figure out..
Reads like TV commercial.
Surprisingly this might be true. Ukraine has done amazing things with their cheapo drones like taking out a Russian s-400 anti aircraft/missile system.
https://youtube.com/shorts/5INJXzBHpDw?si=X9xkFVMdzEvgVCfi
Interesting, ... as Ukraine Drones only respond to Nazi Control Personnel ...
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