“Drone production companies are actively developing in Ukraine, developing new UAVs for the needs of the front every time.”, — write: www.unian.ua
Drone production companies are actively developing in Ukraine, developing new UAVs for the needs of the front every time.
Ukraine relies on the free market for weapons production / photo t.me/herman_smetanin_mspUkraine is betting that the free market for arms production can overtake Russia. Today, Kyiv’s formidable drone army was created mostly by private companies, few of which existed at the time of the start of the full-scale invasion of Russia, writes The Wall Street Journal.When entrepreneur Andriy Bondarenko started creating drones, he had no experience in military technology. Together with a friend, he developed the first prototype in a month, financing the work with his own money.
A month later, the first ground-based explosive drones created by Bondarenko appeared at the front, overcoming swampy terrain and striking Russian positions. “No government contracts or approvals were required,” the developers emphasize.
A year later, his company Ark Robotics has raised more than $1 million in investment, has developed 20 advanced drone models, and is working on remote control technology that will allow drones to be controlled over long distances.
Ukraine, facing an enemy with a numerical advantage in people and resources, chose the path of hyper-capitalism to develop its military potential. According to government officials, more than 200 new munitions manufacturers have sprung up in the country since 2022, most of them focused on drone development. This was facilitated by tax cuts, deregulation and government grants.
“To defeat Russia, we can’t just do what they do,” said Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov. — “They will always have more money. They will be able to build more factories. So we have to rely on entrepreneurs and innovation.”
The government has removed customs duties on imports of key components for drones, a major relief for manufacturers. However, challenges remain, from power outages to the high risks of working near the front lines. Some companies, like Ark Robotics, are even considering moving part of their production to Poland.
Innovations in conditions of war Ark Robotics, which currently has 60 employees, develops various types of equipment, from ground-based drones to modified vehicles that can perform delivery, evacuation or target destruction tasks.
“We have to be creative,” said Andrii Udovychenko, Ark Robotics’ operations manager.
However, mass production remains a challenge. Frequent power outages drive up costs, and landlords avoid cooperation for fear of Russian strikes. “Generators save us, but it is expensive,” said Bondarenko.
Defense technology startups are faced with the need to quickly adapt to change. “It’s a race, and not all companies can keep up with the pace of change,” Fedorov noted. The military has now implemented a reward system that allows performance points to be exchanged for additional drones. It also helps the government identify the most needed models.
Ukrainian startup Viryi Dron, which started with 10 drones per month, now produces 10,000 units per month. The founder of the company, Oleksiy Babenko, regularly tests equipment on the front lines in order to quickly respond to the needs of the military. “The Russians started producing a lot of silencers,” he explained. — “We create new frequencies, they are new jammers.”
Despite the challenges, Ukraine remains optimistic about the potential of its defense technologies, but remains dependent on Western aid and investment. As noted by investor Perry Boyle: “There are many buyers, not many investors yet.”
Drones at war – the latest news Recently, it became known that Ukrainian specialists are developing high-precision ammunition for UAVs. According to military observers, they lead to a sharp increase in the effectiveness of the use of drones on the battlefield.
And even earlier it was reported that Ukraine had created cheap “anti-war” drones. The most important function of these UAVs is auto-capture of the target.
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