Ukraine Targets Seven Million Drone Production by 2026

The Government of Ukraine has rapidly scaled its domestic drone industry to counter Russian aggression, planning to increase annual production from approximately 1,000 drones in 2022 to seven million by 2026. To support this expansion, the state established the Brave1 cluster, the DOT-Chain procurement platform, and a special tax regime known as Defence City.

The industry operates through a decentralized model involving both large aerospace firms like Antonov and small-scale 3D printer producers. While the Unmanned Systems Forces have reportedly destroyed $40 billion in Russian assets, the sector remains heavily dependent on imported Chinese components for engines and cameras.

To reduce this dependency and further scale operations, Ukraine is restarting weapons exports and forming international joint ventures. This includes a partnership with a Canadian drone manufacturer to modernize defense capabilities. Additionally, the Please Come Back, Mister volunteer foundation plans to procure 16,500 long-range drones valued at $34 million this year.