Ukraine Plans to Produce Over 7 Million Drones in 2026

Ukraine plans to increase the production of unmanned systems in 2026, manufacturing over 7 million drones.

This was announced by Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Serhii Boiev at the OFDEF conference.

The conference is dedicated to coordinating defense support for Ukraine from partner countries.

Serhiy Boiev said that in 2026, Ukraine will need $120 billion to defend itself, stabilize the front line, and destroy Russian targets.

Ukraine plans to cover half of this amount—$60 billion—from its own budget and loans from the European Union.

Ukraine expects another $60 billion from its partners in the form of security assistance.

Serhiy Boiev named air defense and missile defense systems, missiles for them, Ukrainian-made UAVs, and extended-range artillery ammunition as key priorities for 2026.

“Ukraine calls on its partners to direct about 80% of security assistance to these three areas,” Boiev said.

Drones and air defense

In the field of unmanned systems, Ukraine plans to produce more than 7 million drones in 2026.

“Unmanned technologies have become the basis of asymmetric defense and have made it possible to create a strike zone with a depth of up to 20 kilometers,” Boev says.

The next goal is to expand this zone to 100 kilometers by striking Russian targets at operational depth.

Serhiy Boev separately emphasized the critical need for air defense.

Russia has significantly increased the production and use of cruise and ballistic missiles, as well as strike drones.

Ukraine needs urgent deliveries of missiles for key air defense systems. The supply of long-range and air strike weapons is also important.

“The speed of decision-making and delivery is crucial. Every interceptor means lives saved and infrastructure protected,” emphasized the Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine.

Ukraine also called on its partners to become more actively involved in the PURL initiative to purchase American weapons for Ukraine.