The FINANCIAL — Britain steps up support to Ukraine today with a complete package of £325 million for cutting-edge drones to help fight Putin’s illegal invasion.
The investment, which will deliver more than 10,000 drones for the Ukrainian Armed Forces will harness the UK’s world-leading defence industries to deliver advanced new drone capabilities to Ukraine throughout 2024.
The announcement was made today by the Defence Secretary during a visit to Ukraine, his third visit to the country. Accompanied by the Chief of the Defence Staff, he met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, where they reiterated their commitment to Ukraine.
In a significant boost to the £200m drone package announced by the Prime Minister in January, the now £325m overall funding commitment will deliver over 10,000 uncrewed platforms – the majority of which are first-person view (FPV) drones,1000 one-way attack drones which have been researched and developed in the UK, as well as surveillance and maritime drones.
According to Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, by early 2024 there were approximately 200 companies producing drones in Ukraine, with domestic output around one hundred times higher in 2023 than during the first year of Russia’s full-scale invasion. As manufacturing potential continues to expand, Ukrainian officials have set a target of more than one million domestically produced drones in 2024.
DefenI encourage international partners to join the UK in this effort”, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said.
Ukraine’s Armed Forces are using UK donated weapons to unprecedented effect, to help lay waste to nearly 30% of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.
In early February, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the creation of a separate branch of the Ukrainian Armed Forces devoted to drones.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine have earned significant attention for their highly effective use of different types of drones – destroying and damaging thousands of pieces of Russian equipment and vehicles, using much cheaper systems. Highly manoeuvrable FPV drones, which allow the operator the ability to finely control the movements of the drone in real time, have been successfully used to bypass Russian air defences to hit their targets.
These drones have proven highly effective on the battlefield since Russia’s full-scale invasion, providing situational awareness to target enemy positions and armoured vehicles. Ukrainian forces have also used these drones effectively to strike at the heart of Russia’s Navy. With more than a £100M of this package being spent on maritime capabilities, Ukraine will continue to turn the tide in the Black Sea.
Following a meeting of the US-led Ukraine Defence Contact Group last month, which convenes more than 50 countries in providing military support to Ukraine, the Defence Secretary announced that the UK would co-lead an international capability coalition with Latvia to bolster Ukraine’s drone capabilities.
The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have both emphasised the importance of championing international support for Ukraine, and last month the Defence Secretary called on NATO Allies to commit even further during a meeting of the alliance’s ministers.
As for Russian drone technology, Moscow deploys indigenous models, such as the Orion, Eleron-3, Orlan-10, and Lancet, but Western sanctions on crucial Russian supply chains have prevented Moscow from excelling in drone production. Instead, Russia has turned to Iran for a steady supply. The Russians now boast an extensive fleet of Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones that can carry 100 pounds (45.4 kilograms) of explosives over a range of 1,200 miles (1931 kilometers).
The military drone market is poised to experience growth, advancing from USD 13.0 billion in 2023 to reach USD 18.2 billion by 2028, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.0% during the period from 2023 to 2028. Military drones, operated autonomously, through remote control, or a combination of both, are equipped with sensors, electronic receivers and transmitters, and offensive ordnance. These drones play a crucial role in strategic and combat zone reconnaissance, intervening on the front lines by designating targets for precision-guided munitions or directly deploying these munitions themselves. Originating as remotely piloted vehicles (RPVs) or drones, they were initially small radio-controlled aircraft utilized in World War II for target training. Presently, major military powers and even some militia groups employ battlefield surveillance UAVs to extend the observation capabilities of ground and naval forces, enhancing the reach and accuracy of supporting fire.
- In 2024, the revenue in the Drones market in Ukraine amounts to US$2.2m.
- It is projected to have an annual growth rate of 8.39% (CAGR 2024-2028).
- When compared globally, in China generates the highest revenue in the market, reaching US$1,526.0m in 2024.
- Considering the total population, per person revenues in Ukraine are estimated to be US$0.06 in 2024.
- Looking ahead, the volume in the Drones market is expected to reach 8.5k pieces by 2028.
- Furthermore, the market is anticipated to exhibit a volume growth of 10.4% in 2025.
- The average volume per person in the Drones market in Ukraine is projected to be 0.0pieces in 2024.
- Ukraine’s drone market is rapidly growing, driven by the country’s strong engineering talent and increasing demand for aerial surveillance and agricultural applications.
Discussion about this post