KYIV, July 7 — Ukraine’s domestic unmanned aerial vehicle industry has evolved from a wartime necessity into a substantial manufacturing base, according to official statements and production records spanning the past decade. The development of Ukraine’s drone sector traces back to 2014, following the Russian annexation of Crimea. Since then, the country has built a network of manufacturers including Ukrspecsystems, which produces the PD-2 and Shark drones, and the state-owned enterprise Ukroboronprom.
The UJ-22 Airborne, manufactured by Ukrjet, has a range of up to 800 kilometers and a payload capacity of 20 kilograms, according to data from the company. The PD-2, by contrast, has a range of 1,000 kilometers and can carry a 15-kilogram payload.
In 2024, Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation, led by Mykhailo Fedorov, launched the ‘Army of Drones’ project. The initiative raised over $200 million for drone procurement, officials confirmed. By 2025, Ukraine claimed to produce over 100,000 drones annually.
That figure includes first-person-view, or FPV, drones as well as long-range strike variants, according to government statements. The March 2025 strike on the Taneco refinery used a drone with a range exceeding 1,100 kilometers.
Strategic context
The expansion of Ukraine’s drone industry sits within a broader effort to develop indigenous capabilities for long-range strike operations. Manufacturers have focused on increasing both range and payload capacity with each successive platform. The PD-2’s 1,000-kilometer range and 15-kilogram payload capacity represent one benchmark in this development cycle.
The UJ-22 Airborne, with its 800-kilometer range and 20-kilogram payload, offers a different balance of distance and carrying capacity. The ‘Army of Drones’ project, launched in 2024 under Fedorov’s leadership, provided the financial foundation for scaling production.
The over $200 million raised through the initiative enabled procurement at a scale not previously possible, according to ministry records.
Production scale
Ukraine’s claim of producing over 100,000 drones annually by 2025 marks a significant increase from earlier production levels. The figure encompasses both the smaller FPV drones used for tactical operations and the larger long-range strike variants employed against strategic targets. The Taneco strike in March 2025 highlighted the operational capabilities of these longer-range systems.
The drone used in that attack had a range exceeding 1,100 kilometers, surpassing even the PD-2’s published specifications. Manufacturers continue to refine their platforms, with each new variant pushing the boundaries of what Ukrainian-made drones can achieve.
The PD-2 and Shark from Ukrspecsystems, alongside the UJ-22 Airborne from Ukrjet, represent the current state of the art in Ukraine’s domestic drone production.
Looking ahead
Industry observers expect further development of Ukraine’s drone capabilities as manufacturers incorporate lessons from combat operations. The combination of the ‘Army of Drones’ funding mechanism and the production base established since 2014 provides a foundation for continued expansion. The record shows that Ukraine’s drone industry has progressed from initial development following the 2014 annexation of Crimea to a manufacturing sector capable of producing over 100,000 units annually by 2025.
The question now is how quickly the next generation of platforms will emerge.
