In 2024, the Ministry of Defence approved 330 new UAV models for operational use

In 2024, the Ministry of Defence more than quadrupled the number of Ukrainian unmanned systems approved for operational use — including both UAVs and ground robotic platforms, Deputy Defence Minister Valerii Churkin has reported in a op-ed for Interfax-Ukraine.

“We have made a significant breakthrough in the unmanned systems sector. More than 95% of UAVs currently used on the frontline are of Ukrainian origin,” Churkin wrote.

According to him, unmanned systems are beginning to take leading positions in the weapons architecture of the world’s most advanced armed forces. At the same time, given the ongoing arms race with Russia and limited available resources, Ukraine must prioritise the production of relatively inexpensive and effective weapons.

“Currently, military units are using many drones that are similar in function but differ in components, control systems, and ammunition. One could speak of the advantages of such diversity — it makes it more difficult for the enemy to develop a single countermeasure algorithm,” Churkin noted.

However, the downside of this diversity is the additional training required for operators when new drone models are introduced, as well as the technical maintenance challenges. Differing protocols and the absence of unified standards reduce the overall effectiveness of technological solutions.

According to Churkin, the next step should be to optimise the number of models with the same functional purpose — in other words, to standardise weapon systems. This will enable the mass production of the most effective designs.

It should be recalled that drone manufacturers and startups in Ukraine are eligible for state grants of up to 8 million hryvnias through the Brave1 cluster.