Ukraine produces dozens of so-called Ukrainian ‘Shaheds’ per month, which are clones of Iranian drones, Oleksandr Kamyshin, Minister of Strategic Industry, said at the annual meeting of the European Business Association.
Key facts
- According to Kamyshin, currently the defense industry makes a significant contribution to the growth of the country’s economy and should become its main sector in the future.
- “Starting with what is called “Ukrainian Shahed”, we do not say the name of this product, but we started mass production of it and now (produce) dozens a month, continuing with many other items that we previously produced very little, but now we have decent numbers,” said the minister.
- He added that the multiple growth of production does not always satisfy the government. “We are satisfied with a tenfold increase or more. We have such growth in many areas,” he explained.
- The minister noted that there is no question of business integration with Ukroboronprom, because state-owned factories are working, and investors are developing the private sector. “Today, many drone companies saw an opportunity in one of the state-owned factories to find resources that they could not find on their own,” he said.
- For example, the service center at the state plant helps private small drone companies. According to Kamyshin, this is an example of how the state helps development with its resources.
- “In this regard, the Ukrainian “Shahed” appeared precisely at the state plant,” the minister said.
Context
Ukraine has started serial production of a new kamikaze drone , it is already being ordered by the defense forces for their operations, General Director of JSC “Ukrainian Defense Industry” Herman Smetanin said.
At the beginning of the year, the former management of Ukroboronprom announced the development of a kamikaze drone capable of flying 1,000 km .The product was then only at the testing stage.
Source: Forbes Ukraine Magazine