Ukrainian drone makers unveil independent Mavic analogues for military

China's Mavics are widely used on the frontlines for air reconnaissance, as Ukraine pushes for self-sufficient military tech production amid Chinese export restrictions.

Nov 11, 2024 - 12:00

Ukrainian drone makers unveil independent Mavic analogues for military

ukrainian drone makers unveil independent mavic analogues military indigenous drones armed replacing chinese-made mavics defense forces

Ukrainian drone manufacturers have unveiled unique UAVs for reconnaissance and targeting that serve as the first domestically-produced analogues of the Chinese Mavic drones, Ukrinform reports.

Drone warfare innovations have become a defining feature of the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war. Unmanned vehicles of various sizes, operating in the air, on land, and at sea, play a central role, with technology advancing rapidly from both sides. Both Ukraine and Russia have been extensively deploying small, inexpensive commercial drones, like the DJI Mavic 3, for battlefield surveillance and fire direction. These civilian drones are frequently modified to carry small bombs for attacking enemy infantry and equipment.

The presentation was organized by Ukraine’s Ministry of Strategic Industries and featured various Ukrainian drone developers. According to Minister Herman Smetanin, these new Ukrainian drones will help the country reduce its reliance on foreign suppliers.

“We are presenting unique Ukrainian products that serve as analogues to the Chinese Mavic drones, currently the most popular reconnaissance drones used by Ukraine’s security and defense forces,” Smetanin said. “Producing them domestically will ensure independence from foreign supplies.”

One manufacturer’s representative, Anton, noted that Mavic pilots can easily operate the Ukrainian drone after 15-20 minutes of training.

“Civilian drones under electronic warfare (EW) cannot fully perform their functions. Our drone significantly outperforms the Mavic, as it is specifically designed to fly under intense electromagnetic interference,” Anton said.

Ukrainian drone manufacturers showcasing to the military their domestic UAVs analogous to Chinese Mavic. Photo: Ukrinform

Another manufacturer, Marko, acknowledged the initial high costs of domestic drone production:

Ukraine can produce everything domestically, but initially, it will be more expensive. As production scales, costs will decrease,” he explained.

The Ministry of Strategic Industries aims to collaborate with the Ministry of Defense to ensure sufficient procurement of the new Ukrainian drone models to meet the needs of Ukraine’s security forces. According to the ministry, the domestic drone production capacity in 2024 has increased more than tenfold compared to 2023.

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