Italy plans to launch a joint drone production venture with Ukraine

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has expressed Rome’s interest in developing joint defense production with Ukraine. Unmanned aerial vehicles are set to be the main focus of the cooperation. 

She announced this on April 15 during a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Rome, ANSA reports.

Meloni emphasized that Ukraine has become a global leader in the development and use of UAVs in recent years. The parties discussed specific steps to strengthen defense cooperation, which will allow for the integration of Italian industrial capabilities with the unique combat experience of Ukrainian developers.

This initiative is part of a broader strategy by European countries to integrate Ukraine’s defense-industrial complex into EU supply chains. In addition to drones, the parties are exploring opportunities for cooperation in the fields of electronic warfare and armored vehicles. The Italian Prime Minister emphasized that such cooperation is beneficial for both countries and will contribute to strengthening security across Europe.

Currently, technical teams from both countries are working to finalize the legal and logistical details of future joint ventures. The first results of this cooperation are expected to emerge by the end of this year. Zelenskyy’s visit to Rome reaffirmed the high level of strategic partnership between the two nations.

Meanwhile, Germany is enhancing Ukraine’s long-range capabilities through joint drone production.

At Ramstein, a number of countries announced new contributions to the PURL program — Fedorov.