The Head of the State Special Communications and Information Protection Service of Ukraine, Brigadier General Yuri Shchyhol, has revealed a new Ukrainian development – a drone that serves as an analogue to the Russian drone "Lancet."
"The development is currently undergoing testing. I believe that within the next month, we will conclude a contract with the manufacturer for the production of these drones. Because they are already flying, they are already hitting targets. There are technological nuances of improvements, but I am confident that by September, we will conclude the first contract for the delivery of these drones," emphasized Shchyhol during a televised marathon.
The Head of the State Special Communications did not specify the name of the Ukrainian company that will manufacture these drones, but he noted that it will be serial production and highlighted that "the company is a professional in this field."
"All contracts concluded with us are exclusively serial production; we do not purchase one or two, we purchase hundreds, thousands of drones," noted the head of the agency.
He added that over the past year, Ukrainian producers of unmanned aerial vehicles have increased their production manyfold.
"For certain models, for example, heavy attack copters, the increase is in the hundreds. And today, they are already fighting on the frontlines. Their number will only grow monthly: FPV drones, reconnaissance drones. This will pose a significant problem for the enemy," reassured the Head of the State Special Communications.
He mentioned that in 2024, the development of production for lethal unmanned aerial vehicles in Ukraine will grow significantly.
"A year ago, we had 35 companies producing drones. Today, there are over 200 such companies, and we have contracts with 85 of them. This number constantly grows. Each type of drone has its application on the battlefield. Each separate unit or special unit uses its own (models), they order the drones that are most convenient. Because they need certain distances, certain capabilities against electronic warfare. Therefore, this field will only expand, as our ultimate goal is victory," stated Shchyhol.
The Head of the State Special Communications summarized that after victory, Ukraine should become a country with the greatest potential and expertise in the field of lethal unmanned technologies, and "this will be one of the economic effects for the recovery of our country."