Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, drones have played a crucial role on the front lines in Ukraine. Given the numerical superiority of the aggressor, the attacked country has had to make do with an army of volunteers who have built a large proportion of the deployed military drones themselves.
An entire drone hobbyist scene has sprung up in garages, bedrooms and workshops to support the military with homemade and modified drones. Often, commercially available quadrocopters or octocopters are converted and equipped with cameras, targeting systems or explosive charges. 3D printing is also used to produce required parts.
According to Ukrainian soldiers, some of the materials used come from surprising sources, such as supermarkets or drugstores. Despite initial advantages in tactical drones, both sides are now about evenly matched. As a result, the need for improvised maker innovation has never been greater.
Huge sums of money are flowing into drone production from both home and abroad. The Ukrainian fundraising group Come Back Alive alone raised over $150 million in 2022. Meanwhile, 200 drone startups are said to be active in the country. In some cases, prototypes from abroad are also used to attack Russian positions.
According to experts, the Ukrainians’ forced improvisation has already revolutionized drone warfare. Russia is increasingly facing attacks from the air in its own territory. Ukraine has had to adapt in order to survive – in the process, a veritable drone cottage industry has emerged.
The Economist has published a video on the Ukrainians’ drone production:
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