Minister of Digital Transformation Mychailo Fedorov told Reuters on September 16 that drone production in Ukraine is expected to increase 120 to 140 times in 2023, compared to 2022.
The production of drones in Ukraine has already increased a hundred times this year compared to last year, the minister added.
According to Fedorov, Ukraine is conducting tests on AI systems capable of locating targets from miles away and evading disruptive electronic warfare measures.
“Right now it’s all in the testing phase, but some of the drones we buy use AI to recognize targets. In a forest, it can detect a target and recognize whether it is a person, tank or a particular vehicle. These technologies are actively used,” Fedorov said.
Fedorov promised that Ukraine could carry out more attacks on Russian warships as a result of increased drone production.
Citing their sources in the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU), several Ukrainian media reported on September 14 that the SBU and the Ukrainian Navy had carried out a drone attack on Yevpatoriia in Russian-occupied Crimea.
According to media reports, the drones, in combination with Neptune missiles, destroyed a modern S-400 Triumph air defense system.
Ukraine’s military intelligence also reported that a drone and missile attack on a shipyard in Sevastopol in Russian-occupied Crimea on September 13 damaged a Russian landing craft, a submarine and port infrastructure.
Commenting on recent attacks near Crimea, Fedorov said that “there will be more drones, more attacks and fewer Russian ships.”
Also read: The deadly drone arms race is intensifying as Ukraine and Russia embrace the future of war
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