Ukraine needs to attract $6 billion this year to cover the funding deficit for domestic weapon purchases. This was stated by Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal during the 29th meeting in the “Ramstein” format. According to him, this funding will significantly increase the production of FPV drones, which is a key factor in maintaining defense capabilities on the front line, as well as provide more interceptor drones for effective counteraction against kamikaze drone attacks of the “Shahed” type and acquire additional long-range strike capabilities.
This is reported by Finway
Plans for 2026 and the Importance of International Support
Denys Shmyhal also emphasized that Ukraine must focus on planning defense procurement not only for 2025 but also for 2026. The minister urged international partners to consider Ukraine’s needs in their budget plans for the next year to ensure stable funding for the defense and security sector.
Opportunities for Ukrainian Drone Manufacturers and Funding Challenges
The Director of the Defense Procurement Agency, Arsen Zhumadilov, noted that Ukrainian enterprises are ready to produce between 8 to 10 million FPV drones per year. However, in 2025, due to budget constraints, only 4 to 4.5 million drones are planned to be purchased. This means that a significant portion of production capacity will remain unused unless additional funding is secured.
“There are two options to resolve the situation: attracting funding from international partners, particularly through the Danish model, or opening up exports of Ukrainian drones abroad,” emphasized Zhumadilov.
Thus, the future expansion of production and modernization of defense products in Ukraine largely depends on continued support from partners and effective attraction of additional investments.