Volodymyr Zelensky confirms Ukraine has expanded drone manufacturing capacity to 10 million units annually.
Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Ukraine has successfully expanded its drone manufacturing capacity to 10 million units per year, surpassing the initial goal of one million units. The administration announced a new $1.1 billion defense cooperation arrangement with the European Union, known as the Drone Deal, to support this expansion. The administration also noted that Ukraine aims to double this production to 20 million units, with the long-term ambition of becoming the world's largest producer of robotic systems. The expansion follows a period of heavy battlefield reliance on unmanned systems for surveillance and precision strikes. Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov reported that drones alone struck over 800,000 Russian targets in 2026, contributing to the wounding or death of approximately 167,000 Russian troops. While analysts suggest these drones may not immediately collapse Russia's position, they are effectively disrupting logistics and energy sectors. To support these efforts, the administration also authorized the use of the domestic Cyclops interceptor drone to engage high-speed targets.