Drone production in Ukraine is slowing down due to a shortage of engines — Reuters

Ukraine is struggling to keep up with the growing demand for strike drones due to a shortage of engines. The production of Ukrainian long-range drones is hampered by a shortage of mini-jet engines, which are critical for long-range strikes.

Reuters reports this, citing a source in the Ukrainian defense sector.

A source in the Ukrainian defense industry, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the shortage of such engines is “likely the main factor limiting the number of drones produced,” calling it “a major problem for our missile program.”

Mini-jet drones are cheaper than missiles, making them a vital tool for Ukraine in the war. At the same time, production is hampered not only by a shortage of engines but also by a shortage of materials needed to manufacture them.

Maria Popova, Chief Operating Officer of the Ukrainian Defense Industry Council, agreed that there is a problem with both turbojet engines for drones and the materials needed to produce them.

“Supplies remain limited both globally and especially in Ukraine,” she noted. 

Oleksandr Kamyshin, an advisor to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the defense industry, declined to comment on whether the shortage is affecting the situation.

Despite this, companies in Europe are investing in capacity expansion and launching new projects in partnership with Ukraine. Demand for such engines is expected to rise to thousands of units per month in the near future.

Experts note that the market is developing very quickly but is not yet keeping pace with the growth in demand. 
 

Ukraine is expanding drone production in partnership with Europe.

Zelenskyy announced an increase in the number of Ukrainian experts in the Middle East.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine thwarted a Russian offensive planned for March, according to Zelenskyy.

Hundreds of attacks are taking place on the front lines, with the heaviest fighting in the Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivkasectors.

Additionally, the occupiers shelled the Dnipropetrovsk region nearly 30 times: one person was wounded.

Russia attacked an ambulance crew in the Kharkiv region with an FPV drone.