Ukrainian drone manufacturers have conducted flight tests of their proposed Chinese Mavic drone replacement for the armed forces.
Eight domestic drone developers at various stages of readiness presented solutions resembling DJI Mavic unmanned aerial vehicles at a demonstration organized by the Ministry of Strategic Industries.
During the demonstration, six teams completed flight missions that involved a 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) flight at an altitude above 250 meters (820 feet) and a target search.
The solutions’ quality, features, characteristics, and production capabilities were assessed by the General Staff, the Unmanned Systems Forces Command, the Logistics Forces Command, government procurers, and military units.
The Ministry of Defense has tested and codified two of the unmanned reconnaissance platforms.
Meanwhile, the best ones that match the Ukrainian armed forces’ needs will be procured.
“I thank the Ukrainian teams of manufacturers who were able to create such a product in Ukraine. Inexpensive, functional, easy to manage. And most importantly, it is created inside the country, which, firstly, makes us more independent from foreign supplies, and secondly, it leaves money in the country,” Minister of Strategic Industries Herman Smetanin wrote in his Telegram post.
Mass Drone Production
Last year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared the country’s plans to produce a million drones by 2024 to gain an advantage in its ongoing war with Russia.
This resulted in a massive rise in domestic drone production, but they were beaten by cheaper Chinese drones due to insufficient state funds.
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