Solutions to win: Ukrainian manufacturers receive $3 mln in funding for UAV defense technology
Photo: Ministry of Digital Transformation
According to the Anti-Shahed Drone Hackathon results, three Ukrainian manufacturers will receive $1 million each to implement and scale developments against enemy UAVs.
The press service of the Ministry of Digital Transformation reported this.
What is the problem?
"Creating alternative systems to counter the Iranian Shahed drones is critically important. We had cool cases with the Army of Drones when foreign drones and domestically produced UAVs were delivered to the front lines. The same should be implemented with the development of Ukrainian sky defense systems," the Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Innovation, Development of Education, Science, and Technology – Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov.
Photo: Ministry of Digital Transformation
What is the solution?
The Drone Hackathon brought together 50 developers, engineers, cyber specialists, and enthusiasts who are creating advanced systems and technologies to detect and destroy enemy drones.
Photo: Ministry of Digital Transformation
How does it work?
Specialists in various branches and types of troops, military structures, and digital technologies evaluated the projects.
According to the event results, three winners were selected, with whom contracts for 1 million dollars will be concluded. New technologies will help to fight the Iranian Shahed drones without losing the resources of the air defense forces.
Photo: Ministry of Digital Transformation
Photo: Ministry of Digital Transformation
For reference:
Fedorov states that the Army of Drones, funded through international sources, developed into a significant government initiative to grant additional support to Ukrainian and international manufacturers of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).
According to the Ministry of Digital Transformation head, the process of scaling UAV production in Ukraine is taking place. In addition to the UNITED24 platform, in December 2022, a Special Coordinating Council on Mass Drone Production was established. Its representatives consulted with manufacturers about the possibilities of expanding their activities. "We gathered 80 manufacturers and asked them what capabilities and "blockers" they have for development," Fedorov said. Also, according to him, they asked the military what kind of drones they needed and in what quantity.
The government and parliament have increased funding for this program and changed the regulatory framework to remove red tape that hinders producers. The minister noted that removing obstacles related to the importation of components for drones into the country was possible.
It should be noted that for more than 11 months of the existence of the Army of Drones project, 3,864 UAV complexes were purchased with the funds of United24. The sum of concluded contracts is more than 4.3 billion hryvnias.
Also, UAV Operator Training Centers taught 10,000 soldiers to operate drones in 10 months.
