Ukraine accelerates drone production for 2025

Tuesday 30 December 2025 - 09:20

Ukraine's military anticipates delivery of around three million FPV drones by the end of 2025, a sharp increase of nearly 2.5 times over the prior year, according to a recent announcement from Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal. The bulk of these units, approximately 2.4 million, will come from domestic manufacturers through direct contracts, bolstering the nation's self-reliance in unmanned systems.

Forces are also ramping up deployment of ground-based medical evacuation robots featuring armored capsules. One such device recently saved a wounded soldier during a 58-kilometer journey, protecting him from a direct FPV drone hit, as reported by the 1st Separate Medical Battalion. In total, nearly 15,000 ground robotic platforms reached Ukrainian troops this year, triple the previous annual figure.

This surge in production has drawn keen interest from NATO partners eyeing lessons for potential clashes with Russia. US Army General Christopher Cavoli, NATO's top commander in Europe, highlighted Ukraine's naval drones as a harbinger of future warfare, emphasizing the growing prominence of unmanned maritime systems.