President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced today that Ukraine will begin mass production of a new drone model to replace Chinese-made DJI Mavic UAVs, Interfax-Ukraine reports.
"Next, Mavic. A very important issue.... We were looking for alternatives – alternatives have been found. There will be mass production of this alternative. Relevant financed contracts are now being prepared," Zelenskyy said during a briefing on 7 November.
DJI Mavic series drones, originally developed for civilian and commercial use, have become among the most widespread and critically important unmanned aircraft on the Ukrainian front. The drones are valued for their compact size, relative affordability, and high-quality imaging capabilities, particularly the Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Thermal models.
In the Ukrainian army, these drones primarily perform tactical reconnaissance functions at distances up to 15 km, adjust artillery fire, and after modification are used to drop small munitions on enemy positions, serving as the "eyes" of infantry and artillery units.
Zelenskyy also emphasized that evacuation drones must be included in the e-Points bonus system. "The main task is to preserve people's lives, this is a priority," the president said.
During the briefing, Zelenskyy discussed a report from Commander of Unmanned Systems Forces Robert Brovdi, who presented a program aimed at strengthening air defense over Kherson. According to the president, the program is ready and has received support. He instructed officials to develop similar programs for border cities and the most vulnerable communities.
Recently, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine plans to reach production of 500-800 interceptor drones per day in November.
