President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky announced during a meeting with government representatives the launch of a controlled export program for Ukrainian weapons as early as November. According to him, by the end of the year, over 50% of the armaments used in the country’s defense should be of domestic production.
This is reported by Finway
“The controlled export program for our weapons needs to be launched next month. By the end of the year, we should achieve a target of over 50% of weapons produced in Ukraine for the defense of our state.”
Main Directions of Export and Production
Zelensky clarified that the weapons directed for export will be those produced in larger quantities than needed by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In particular, this may include naval drones. The president emphasized that Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal must ensure the full implementation of plans for the production and supply of FPV drones, interceptor drones, and UAVs for long-range strikes by the end of the year.
Development of Ukraine’s Defense Industry
According to the American publication NYT, from 2022 to 2024, 425 new enterprises specializing in weapon manufacturing have emerged in Ukraine. Thus, currently, over 2,000 Ukrainian companies are engaged in the development and production of weapons and military equipment, indicating a significant growth in the country’s defense sector.