The Ukrainian authorities has just lately made important strides in increasing its drone capabilities, as evidenced by two main bulletins from official sources.
Chicken of Prey Drone System Permitted for Fight
On March 26, 2025, Ukraine’s Protection Ministry introduced the approval of the domestically produced Chicken of Prey unmanned aviation system for fight operations.
This technique, developed primarily based on battlefield expertise, is optimized for effectiveness towards enemy automobiles and fortified positions. The Chicken of Prey drones are outfitted with payloads able to putting heavy tools corresponding to tanks, armored personnel carriers, and self-propelled artillery, in addition to fortified dugouts.
The Protection Ministry said, “The Chicken of Prey has already confirmed its effectiveness in destroying enemy armored automobiles and fortified firing positions”. This approval aligns with Ukraine’s broader technique to boost its unmanned warfare capabilities.
Formidable Drone Procurement Plans for 2025
Earlier this month, on March 10, 2025, the Ukrainian Protection Ministry unveiled plans to considerably improve its drone arsenal. The ministry introduced its intention to buy roughly 4.5 million first-person view (FPV) drones in 2025, greater than tripling final yr’s procurement.
Hlib Kanevsky, head of the procurement coverage division on the ministry, famous that Ukraine had secured over 1.5 million FPV drones final yr, with 96% sourced from home producers and suppliers. “This yr, we anticipate even larger numbers, because the home protection sector is projected to supply round 4.5 million FPV drones in 2025,” Kanevsky said.
To assist this huge procurement initiative, the Protection Ministry has allotted greater than $2.6 billion. This substantial funding underscores Ukraine’s dedication to increasing its drone capabilities and lowering dependence on Western assist.
Lengthy-term Objectives and Strategic Implications
These developments are a part of a broader technique to boost Ukraine’s protection capabilities. President Volodymyr Zelensky has set an formidable goal of manufacturing no less than 30,000 long-range drones in 2025. This concentrate on home manufacturing and procurement of drones displays Ukraine’s adaptation to the evolving nature of recent warfare, the place unmanned techniques play an more and more essential position.
Because the battle with Russia continues, these developments in drone expertise and manufacturing capability are prone to have important implications for Ukraine’s navy technique and operational capabilities on the battlefield.
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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, an expert drone companies market, and a fascinated observer of the rising drone trade and the regulatory setting for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles targeted on the industrial drone area and is a global speaker and acknowledged determine within the trade. Miriam has a level from the College of Chicago and over 20 years of expertise in excessive tech gross sales and advertising for brand spanking new applied sciences.
For drone trade consulting or writing, E mail Miriam.
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