UAV interceptors for the Defence Forces. Ukrainian companies took the lead in the number of applications submitted for a series of international tenders organized by the Drone Coalition

For the first time, Ukrainian manufacturers participated in a series of international tenders that included two lots: manufacturing advanced FPV drones with autonomous functionalities and robust communication systems, as well as drone interceptors. Ukrainian drone manufacturers took the lead by submitting 32% of the total applications for producing drone interceptors.  In the case of advanced FPV drones, our companies ranked second, submitting 26% of the proposals.

“Such a large number of proposals from our companies proves that we are successfully advancing our goal of scaling up drone production in Ukraine. This is already helping to create an asymmetric advantage in technology over the enemy. This is particularly evident in the realm of drone interceptors, where our companies possess unparalleled expertise in both the development and operational deployment of such technologies. We aim to drive the global industry towards mass production of such drones,” said Kateryna Chernohorenko, Deputy Minister of Defence for Digital Development.

The deadline for submitting applications to manufacture advanced FPV drones closed in October. The deadline for submitting proposals for the creation of drone interceptors closed on November 11. The winning companies will be awarded contracts to manufacture drones that will undergo further testing and assessment. Should their products show good results at that stage, there are intentions to place larger orders for FPV drones from the winning manufacturers.

To reiterate, the Drone Coalition was established in February 2024 during the 19th Ramstein meeting. The initiative was proposed by Latvia and is being coordinated with the United Kingdom. Currently, 16 partner nations are participating in the Drone Coalition.

Ukraine has already received thousands of drones through this initiative. The Coalition has accumulated €71 million for joint procurement, with an anticipated allocation to procure and deliver another 20,000 to 30,000 drones.