Ukraine Develops Own Drones to Replace Chinese Mavics

11 November, 2024 Ukrainian Griffon Roksolyana X30 drone, November 2024. Photo credits: Ministry of Strategy and Industry Ukrainian developers of unmanned systems have presented their solutions to the Ukrainian government and military to replace Chinese Mavic drones.

Footage from the event was released by the Minister of Strategic Industries, Herman Smetanin. This weekend, the Ministry of Strategic Industries organized a demonstration for 8 Ukrainian manufacturers of tactical reconnaissance copters that are at different stages of readiness, and two of them have already been tested and codified by the Ministry of Defense. Six teams completed flight missions: a 10 km flight at an altitude of over 250 meters and a target search.

This was a demonstration for the General Staff, the Unmanned Systems Forces Command, the Logistics Forces Command, government procurement and military units. The military evaluated the quality of the products and talked directly with the manufacturers about the production features and capabilities. "First of all, I thank the Ukrainian production teams who managed to create such a product in Ukraine. It is inexpensive, functional, and easy to operate.

And most importantly, it is created within the country, which, firstly, makes us more independent of foreign supplies, and secondly, keeps money in the country," Herman Smetanin wrote in his message. This video shows Ukrainian tactical reconnaissance drones such as Griffin Roksolana X30?, ZOOM, Shmavik and Ptah-S. In the future, the state should codify and conduct comparative tests of the demonstrated drones.

Based on the results, the best ones will be purchased for the Defense Forces.

Ukrainian ZOOM tactical reconnaissance drone, November 2024. Photo credits: Ministry of Strategy and Industry
Ukrainian ZOOM tactical reconnaissance drone, November 2024. Photo credits: Ministry of Strategy and Industry

The market for reconnaissance drones

According to the Ministry of Defense, since April, the Defense Procurement Agency has contracted Mavic 3E and Mavic 3T thermal imaging drones for about UAH 2.5 billion.

It was the first time the Ministry of Defense purchased 3,000 DJI Mavic 3E UAVs and 1,000 DJI Mavic 3T thermal imaging drones with additional equipment for the military. The total value of the contracts amounted to UAH 575.2 million. The average price of one unmanned aerial vehicle was as follows:

  • UAH 126,900 - DJI Mavic 3E with three additional batteries and a charger;
  • UAH 194,200 - DJI Mavic 3T with three additional batteries and a charger.
Ukrainian military with DJI Mavic 3 drones, 2024.

Photo credits: 117th Brigade

In October, procurers of the State Special Communications Service managed to sign a contract for DJI Mavic 3T thermal imaging drones at a record low price: UAH 416.94 million for 2,250 quadcopters, or UAH 137,500 per unit.

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