Zelensky receives first drone from German Ukrainian factory
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday visited the first German Ukrainian drone manufacturing plant, where he received the inaugural attack drone produced under the new partnership as Kyiv steps up efforts to expand its defense production footprint across Europe.
The facility, operated by Quantum Frontline Industries near Munich, began operations this week. Zelensky toured the site alongside German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius during the 62nd Munich Security Conference, where global leaders gathered to discuss pressing security challenges.
In a message posted on X, Zelensky said he had received the first jointly manufactured attack drone and observed both the production line and the aircraft’s initial flight. He described the system as modern Ukrainian technology, battle tested and powered by artificial intelligence, capable of carrying out strike, reconnaissance and defensive missions.
Quantum Frontline Industries was established following a December 2025 agreement between German drone manufacturer Quantum Systems and Ukraine’s Frontline Robotics. The joint venture plans to produce up to 10,000 drones annually through a fully automated production line. Output will include the Linza strike drone and the Zoom reconnaissance drone, both based on designs refined during combat operations in Ukraine.
Company representatives characterize the project as a cross border coproduction model that merges Ukrainian battlefield expertise with Germany’s industrial automation capabilities. The initiative reflects a broader shift in European defense cooperation, with Ukraine moving from primarily receiving military aid to contributing technology and production capacity to partners across the continent.
Zelensky outlined ambitious expansion plans, stating that Ukraine aims to establish ten joint drone production ventures across Europe by the end of 2026. He said Kyiv has long worked to open coproduction lines in European countries and described the German plant as a concrete result of that strategy.
Similar production lines are already operating in the United Kingdom, according to Zelensky, with additional partnerships under development in France and Lithuania. He thanked Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Defense Minister Pistorius and the German public for their support of the initiative.
The visit underscores Ukraine’s evolving defense industry strategy at a time of sustained conflict and heightened security concerns in Europe. Interest in Ukrainian designed weapons systems is growing, with 15 European Union member states reportedly exploring procurement options through the bloc’s 150 billion euro SAFE defense fund. The development signals Kyiv’s increasing role as both a security partner and a supplier of defense technology within the European framework.
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