European countries invest in UAV production in Ukraine

Euro News reported on June 8 that the Russia-Ukraine conflict over the past three years has turned unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs/drones) into one of the most strategic weapons of the 21st century. However, according to military experts, France is still “not fully prepared” for this major change in the way it conducts war.

In the campaign of attrition and positional warfare that the war in Ukraine is demonstrating, First-Person View (FPV) UAVs have rapidly become popular and play an essential role.

The Russian Federation, which initially relied heavily on Iranian Shahed UAVs, soon mobilized the full might of its wartime economy to produce UAVs on a large scale itself.

Soldiers of the 24th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian army prepare to operate an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Photo: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine/X

On the Ukrainian side, although it does not have the capacity for large-scale production like the Russian Federation, this country is not inferior thanks to its creativity in manufacturing and developing its own UAV models, as well as its efficiency in using them.

This was demonstrated by the Spider Web operation that the Armed Forces of Ukraine coordinated with the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) to carry out on June 1, which is believed to have caused billions of dollars in damage to the Russian Federation Air Force.

Watch video footage of the attack on June 1, 2025. Source: Security Service of Ukraine - SBU

Kiev can now count on important support from French defense and car companies producing UAVs on Ukrainian soil.

According to French public radio reported the same afternoon, the giant Renault automobile group will be responsible for producing these UAVs.

Announcing the relevant initiative on LCI television, French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu called it a “win-win” partnership with Ukraine.

“We will start a completely unprecedented partnership, in which a large French carmaker – I will not reveal its name because it will announce it itself – will cooperate with a French small and medium-sized enterprise in the defense sector to equip a production line in Ukraine for the production of drones,” Lecornu said.

Mr. Lecornu did not specify the type of UAVs that will be produced, but confirmed that these UAVs will be provided to the Ukrainian army. In addition, according to Mr. Lecornu, these UAVs will also be equipped for the French army to be able to train tactics and operations on a regular basis, close to the reality of the conflict.

In terms of expertise and workforce, production will be undertaken by Ukrainians because “they are better than us in inventing UAVs and, more importantly, developing the doctrine of their use,” Mr. Lecornu admitted, adding that, therefore, France does not need to call on French citizens to work on the production line in Ukraine.

The announcement came after discussions held on June 5 in Brussels between the Ukrainian and French defense ministers on cooperation in the production of weapons for Ukraine's defense needs.

“We are ready to open this opportunity to the best manufacturers. Ukraine has combat experience, and France has a solid industrial base. This is a strategic and mutually beneficial partnership,” Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umarierov stressed, thanking Lecornu for his support.

At the 28th meeting of the Contact Group on Defense for Ukraine (Ramstein Group) at the headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Ukraine and its partners also decided to establish a mechanism for the production of weapons.

There are already many European partners investing in UAV production in Ukraine, such as Finland, which has established a drone factory in cooperation with Ukrainian partners to produce drones for Ukraine and the EU, with mass production expected to begin in 2025.

Meanwhile, the Netherlands has announced a 700 million euro ($798 million) investment to boost UAV technology and support Ukraine's defense industry.

For its part, the UK is also investing hundreds of millions of dollars to increase UAV production for Ukraine in 2025.

Norway has redirected funds to support the production of UAVs for Ukraine.

While the French military currently possesses several thousand UAVs (around 3,000), Ukraine plans to field more than 4.5 million by 2025 – these UAVs are currently responsible for 70% of enemy equipment destroyed on the front lines.

Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/cac-nuoc-chau-au-dau-tu-san-xuat-uav-tai-ukraine-post1546560.html