Ukraine to produce 1.5 million drones this year, focusing on FPV models - Defense Express

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.

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 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.

• Defense Minister Rustem Umerov says that Ukraine currently has the capacity to produce over several million drones annually.