Ukraine is significantly ramping up its drone production and capabilities as part of its ongoing conflict. A collaboration between journalists revealed that Ukraine produced 'tens of thousands' of drones in December, doubling the output of the entire year of 2022, according to Deputy Prime Minister for Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine highlighted drones as a 'game-changing tool of this war,' emphasizing the potential for technical superiority to translate into battlefield victories. The Kyiv Independent reported on Ukraine's acquisition of the Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb to bolster its missile and artillery stocks. Additionally, Ukraine has deployed the NASAMS air defense system, armed with AMRAAM AIM-120 missiles, which is noted as the most advanced against cruise missiles. A new type of loitering munition with a German turbojet engine is also in use, and a startup is producing 1500 small drones daily, as witnessed by Josep Borrell. Ukraine is also developing its own version of the Russian Lancet kamikaze drone, capable of hitting targets up to 40km away, with testing already underway and mass production and deployment to the front lines expected soon after contracts are signed in the coming weeks. Furthermore, Ukraine has introduced a new Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (CUAS) 'technical' equipped with 14.5 mm machine guns, thermal imagers, and night vision.
Ukraine's newest CUAS "technical", with several 14.5 mm machine guns, thermal imagers and night vision equipment. https://t.co/DcRPF1nmZO https://t.co/EGzCgVc4Hi
Mass production of UAVs of the Russian Lancet type with a range of 40 km will begin in Ukraine soon, - Minister of Digital Transformation Fedorov. The first contracts will be signed in the coming weeks. UAVs will get to the front soon after that.
Western-supplied NASAMS medium range air defense system in Ukrainian service. https://t.co/ifQeiaK0Ja
Ukraine is developing its own analogue of the Russian Lancet kamikaze drone. The drone will be able to hit targets at a distance of up to 40km, Deputy Prime Minister for Digital Transformation Fedorov said. He noted that testing is already underway. https://t.co/NtWl6kmOda https://t.co/KeEm3lz7md
Had the opportunity yesterday to witness Ukrainian ingenuity first hand - a recent startup is now producing 1500 small drones a day as part of Ukraine’s #ArmyOfDrones Ukraine has the capacity to become a technological powerhouse. @mintsyfra https://t.co/4RGnyWtzNe
Ukraine has begun using a new type of loitering munition with a German JetCat P400-PRO small-sized turbojet engine. https://t.co/LuBvRlj8Ao
A NASAMS launcher in Ukraine 🇺🇦 loaded with 5 AMRAAM AIM-120 Surface-to-Air Missiles NASAMS is the most effective and most advanced air defense system against cruise missiles in the world https://t.co/QOAZ6Fz45y
A NASAMS launcher in Ukraine 🇺🇦 loaded with 5 AMRAAM AIM-120 Surface-to-Air Missiles NASAMS is the most effective and most advanced air defense system against cruise missiles in the world to date https://t.co/nSdt1lwU52
NASAMS ground-based air defense system launcher with 5/6 AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles present. Somewhere in Ukraine. https://t.co/zSvhhakdzb
Ukraine’s latest acquisition, the Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb, will complement Ukraine’s capabilities amid the constant need to replenish its missile and artillery stocks depleted by intense fighting. https://t.co/5oKF6PT1DS
One can see that drones have become a game-changing tool of this war. With enough political resolve, the technical & know-how superiority that the West has over Russia, North Korea, and Iran, can be converted into battlefield victories. #ArmUkraineNow https://t.co/beBopp4yIL
.@olliecarroll, @David_Hambling & I teamed up this week to write on the growing importance of FPV drones in Ukraine. December was a turning point, @FedorovMykhailo tells us, with "tens of thousands” of drones being produced—twice the level in all of 2022. https://t.co/tCVBMiXp9E