Exclusive: Defense Ministry Unveils Drone Coalition Initiative Aimed at Fortifying Defense Alliances

8 April, 2024 More than 900 drones transferred to the Ukrainian military within the Army of Drones project, November 8, 2023. Photo credits: Mykhailo Fedorov One of the successful projects in Ukraine is the Drone Coalition, which offers allies opportunities to develop their own drones and build joint ventures.

Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Kateryna Chernohorenko, discussed this initiative in her interview with Militarnyi. "The minister's decision legalized the drone coalition, and Latvia and the United Kingdom became the founders of this coalition," said Kateryna Chernohorenko. Ukraine has already secured EUR200 million from the Netherlands for drones, GBP325 million from the UK, and funding from Latvia as well.

Ukraine officials offered the partners a form of drone coalition, which was called 50, 30, 20, where 50% of the tranche is the purchase from the Ukrainian manufacturers.

Ukrainian naval drone of a new generation. February 2024, Ukraine. A frame from the TSN video

"Because we believe it is very important to support the Ukrainian manufacturer, which has developed a lot over the past two years and increased UAV production a hundredfold," said Kateryna Chernohorenko.

Drones from allies

Ukraine is ready to receive 30% of its drones from manufacturers in partner countries.

"We have agreed with our partners that we will prioritize the drones ourselves, specify the number and class of drones we need, and pass on the specifications we need, and then we will select the samples we need," said Kateryna Chernohorenko. And 20%, which constitutes the remainder from the total of 100%, is allocated for joint ventures. "Any plant, any production made in Ukraine together with partners is an important signal to the whole world that Ukrainians can do joint projects, that we can make technological chains, and this will greatly strengthen our cooperation," said Kateryna Chernohorenko.

Kateryna Chernohorenko.

Photo credits: ArmyInform

According to this plan, joint ventures and joint plants should appear in Ukraine. The Deputy Minister added that there have already been several rounds of negotiations between partners, and Ukrainian companies that can provide such an opportunity for joint ventures. The drone coalition includes not only aircraft or drones, but all domains.

"This includes naval drones, surface and underwater.

These are absolutely all domains, four domains that we want to [address comprehensively].

Also, electronic warfare means, because we believe that this is an integral set, the presence of a drone, the availability of systems to combat enemy drones," added Kateryna Chernohorenko.