Ukraine's potential in the production of drones and missiles in 2026 will be USD 35 billion. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated this at the International Defense Industries Forum, the Ukrainian News agency reports.
"Since the beginning of this full-scale war, the potential of the Ukrainian defense industry has increased tenfold. Our potential in the production of drones and missiles alone will already be USD 35 billion next year," he said.
Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine was able to establish the production of domestic artillery in record time and with high quality - 40 self-propelled artillery systems Bohdana alone are being produced per month.
Also, according to him, last year Ukraine produced and supplied 2.4 million mortar and artillery ammunition of various calibers to the frontline.
Zelenskyy said that more than 40% of Ukrainian weapons are currently used at the front, and by the end of the year the number should be at least 50%.
"The task for manufacturers, for the government of Ukraine, for all the institutions involved: at least 50% of the weapons at the front by the end of the year are our Ukrainian weapons. And this task must be completed. Just like the task of maximizing the production of interceptor drones to shoot down the Shaheds," he said.
The President emphasized that the potential for weapons production in Ukraine is much greater than it is currently financed through domestic resources and agreements with partners, Ukraine needs additional funding to make the full potential work.
Zelenskyy also noted that it is time to launch exports of Ukrainian weapons - those types of weapons that are in surplus in Ukraine - so that there is funding for those types of weapons that are especially needed in Ukraine today for defense. According to him, there are already agreements on the opening of export-import platforms in Europe, the United States and the Middle East, and the task is to launch these key platforms by the end of the year
"I expect that the opening of exports, the opening of new joint ventures, along with attracting investments to Ukraine, will allow us to significantly scale our defense industry," Zelenskyy said.
As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, in September Zelenskyy said that starting this year Ukraine would partially cover the deficit in financing arms production through managed arms exports.
The Cabinet of Ministers plans to raise USD 120 billion for arms production in 2026.
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