Ukrainian experience in combating drones goes beyond the Black Sea, as domestic developers have received the first official request to ensure shipping security in the Middle East. One of the largest manufacturers of FPV systems in Ukraine, TAF Industries, is training specialists to protect merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz, which currently remains blocked by Iran. This is reported by BBC Ukraine.
This involves the provision of military consulting services, which involves the presence of Ukrainian experts directly on board the ships. To neutralize the threats from Iranian Shaheds and speedboats attacking the civilian fleet due to the escalation of the conflict between Iran and the US-Israeli alliance, it is planned to use specialized Kolibri and Octopus interceptor drones.
Despite the world's urgent need for Ukrainian technologies, the issue of direct export of finished products remains difficult due to bureaucratic obstacles. As of the end of April, the State Export Control Service had not yet approved a single application for the export of drones, despite the government's previous statements about opening the market.
In response to these challenges, Ukraine is moving to flexible models of cooperation, focusing on the export of services and experience, rather than just equipment. In particular, Kyiv is integrating anti-drone expertise into broad political agreements, where the provision of specialists to the Persian Gulf countries is in exchange for strategic resources, such as diesel fuel or air defense systems.
At the same time, TAF Industries is actively scaling its activities through the creation of joint ventures in Germany and Finland, where UAVs are assembled under Ukrainian licenses. This allows to bypass delays in the export of "hardware" and meet the high demand for air defense in Europe. The successful implementation of the mission in the Strait of Hormuz can become a precedent for the entire Ukrainian defense industry, confirming the state's status as a global leader in unmanned technologies, capable of monetizing unique combat experience even under strict state regulation.
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