Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal stated at the 29th meeting in the “Ramstein” format that to overcome this year’s domestic arms procurement deficit, Ukraine needs to attract at least $6 billion. These funds will allow for an increase in the production of FPV drones to hold the front line, expand the manufacturing of interceptor drones to combat “Shahed” attacks, and acquire additional long-range weapons for active operations against Russia.
This is reported by Business • Media
“This will enable Ukraine to produce more FPV drones to hold the front line, more interceptor drones to counter the ‘Shahed’ attacks, and also acquire additional long-range weapons to ‘bring the war back to Russia.'”
Plans for Next Year and a Call to Partners
Shmyhal emphasized the importance of strategic preparation for 2026 and called on international partners to ensure financial support for Ukraine in their national budgets for 2026. The timely allocation of funds, he said, is critically important for the stable operation of the defense industry and meeting the army’s needs.
Production Capabilities and Prospects for FPV Drones
Director of the Defense Procurement Agency Arsen Zhumadilov reported that currently, Ukrainian FPV drone manufacturers are capable of producing about 8-10 million drones annually. However, due to funding shortages, the state plans to procure only 4-4.5 million drones this year. Zhumadilov noted that questions remain regarding the use of unused production capacities. Among the possible options are attracting additional funding from international partners, particularly following Denmark’s model, or entering external markets through the opening of exports.