Increases production of up to 1,000 interceptor drones daily in Kiev
In the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the use of drone attacks has become a significant concern, with civilian casualties reported night after night. To counter this threat, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced a plan to significantly increase the production of interception drones.
The goal is to manufacture at least 1,000 interceptor drones per day domestically, a target that Zelensky emphasized during a visit to a production facility in July 2025. This ambitious plan is being led by the Ukrainian government, with substantial funding allocated from the 2025 budget.
Key measures include scaling up domestic manufacturing, the development of multiple interceptor platforms, integration into national air defense, international partnerships, and broad defense strategy contributions. Over $71 million in state contracts have been awarded to private companies, volunteer organizations, and banks to expand the production of interceptor drones. Both ground-based and airborne drone systems are being produced, aimed at detecting and neutralizing hostile drones like the Russian Shahed models.
These interceptor drones are actively deployed at the front lines and are part of initiatives like the “Clear Sky” program, which has successfully intercepted hundreds of enemy drones to protect cities such as Kyiv. Ukraine is also working with international partners to secure funding and technology, with an agreement with the U.S.-based company Swift Beat to supply hundreds of thousands of advanced AI-enhanced interceptor drones capable of downing about 90% of Shahed drones they encounter.
The increased production of drones by Russia and the need for a comparable response from Ukraine suggests an escalation in the use of drone technology in the conflict. Experts predict that Russia will be able to produce up to 1,000 unmanned aerial vehicles per day in the near future.
President Zelensky made this announcement in his evening video address, acknowledging that achieving this goal won't be easy. Relevant officials in Ukraine have been made personally responsible for the implementation of this plan, and the exact deadline for its completion was not specified in the report.
Drones are playing a significant role in combat operations on both sides in the Ukraine war, used for both front-line actions and strikes in the rear. To protect its airspace, Ukraine will have to increase its production of interception drones to a comparable level. This rapid expansion of interception drone capacity is being achieved through increased domestic manufacturing, technological innovation, strategic contracts, and international cooperation.
[1] Ukrainian Government Official Website [2] Ukrainian Ministry of Defense Official Website [3] International Defense News
- To counteract the growing use of drone technology in the Ukraine conflict by both parties, the Ukrainian government is collaborating with private companies, volunteer organizations, and banks in the finance, aerospace, and technology industries to expand the production of interceptor drones, aiming for at least 1,000 per day.
- Recognizing the escalating role of drones in the ongoing Ukrainian conflict, the Ukrainian government is accelerating the industry's growth through increased domestic manufacturing, strategic contracts, and international cooperation, with plans to produce interceptor drones on a scale similar to the anticipated output of Russian unmanned aerial vehicles.
