Ukraine to produce a million FPV drones in 2024
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A Ukrainian serviceman launches a kamikaze FPV drone near the city of Bakhmut, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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KYIV - Kyiv plans to produce a million FPV (first-person-view) drones - widely in demand on the front line - and more than 11,000 medium- and long-range attack drones in 2024, Ukraine’s minister for strategic industries said on Dec 20.
Ukraine intensively used FPV drones - small drones originally for personal civilian use, but modified for the battlefield - since the first days of the 2022 Russian invasion as a cheap but effective option for reconnaissance and attacks.
The tactic was subsequently adopted by Moscow’s troops, now estimated to have many more such drones at their disposal.
“All production facilities are ready, and contracting for 2024 begins,” Mr Oleksandr Kamyshin, the minister, said on Telegram messenger.
The figure includes at least 1,000 drones with a range of more than 1,000km, he said.
President Volodymyr Zelensky later said the issue of drones, both in stock and being deployed, was discussed at a meeting of commanders and officials on Dec 20.
“Logistics will be faster. We are also working on making the use of drones, particularly FPV drones, more efficient in all areas,” Mr Zelensky said, in his nightly video address.
“This is an obvious priority for our country and a very concrete way to protect the lives of our soldiers.”
Ukraine has been working to increase its domestic weapons production
Mr Kamyshin said that in December his country would produce more than 50,000 FPV drones. REUTERS
