One result of the Ukraine War was the emergence of inexpensive drones as a decisive weapon, as well as a reconnaissance and surveillance system. Drones have been around for decades, but they were complex, expensive, and difficult to operate. That changed in the 1990s when General Atomics introduced its one-ton Predator drone. American and allied forces widely used these, along with the larger 4.2-ton Reaper. The second stage of the revolution came in 2016 when the Chinese firm DJI introduced the Mavic quadcopter drone. These were cheap, costing from $300 to thousands of dollars, depending on accessories. By the 2020s, most quadcopter drones cost about $500. More importantly, suppliers provided drone components, so you could build—and often design—your own.

In 2023, a year after Russia invaded Ukraine, Ukrainians were building their own drones, often at home or in scattered workshops. By late 2024, Ukrainians were producing over 150,000 drones a month. Ukraine now aims to produce more than 1.5 million drones a month. By purchasing Chinese and other components in bulk, thousands of Ukrainian men and women are building these drones for the armed forces or for someone they know in the military. Troops at the front also build and modify drones to fit their immediate situations. For the soldiers, designing better drones is often a matter of life or death.

Ukraine has stayed ahead of Russia in drone technology and production. The Russian government discourages or even outlaws individuals from building drones and instead centralizes drone production because that’s how things are done, even in non-communist Russia.

Since Russia invaded in 2022, Ukrainian weapons manufacturers have grown nearly 400 percent. Ukraine produced nearly five million drones in 2025. In 2026, that is expected to be 20 million drones. It’s more than the drones themselves. Ukraine has developed novel ways of using larger drones to attack key Russian industrial targets that are thousands of kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Ukraine is also using drone technology in ground combat. Ukrainian infantry increasingly uses combat robots to carry out high-risk attacks. In more than one instance, defending Russian soldiers surrendered to the robots.

These technologies are also being used in long-range missiles, driverless ground vehicles to carry supplies in the combat zone, and even to bring back wounded soldiers under fire. AI-augmented software will operate ground combat robots more widely and effectively.

Ukrainian manufacturers also produce artillery, rocket launchers, and many other weapons and military equipment. For over a century, Ukraine has been a major producer of weapons, including aircraft and missiles. When Ukraine became independent from the Soviet Union in 1991, it had nuclear weapons and missiles to carry them. A 1994 agreement between Ukraine, Russia, Britain, and the United States had Ukraine getting rid of its nuclear weapons in return for guarantees from Russia that it would never attack Ukraine, and if it did, Britain and the Americans were obliged to aid Ukraine in resisting the attack. This experience complicates any future Russian offers to settle the war in Ukraine through a treaty. In short, Russia cannot be trusted. Vladimir Putin did not take control of Russia until 1999 and does not feel responsible for upholding the 1994 agreement.

Putin has more serious problems with Ukraine. While Russia is suffering from four years of increasingly stringent economic sanctions, the Ukrainian economy is rapidly growing. Ukrainian military equipment production is rapidly expanding and attracting investment from NATO countries, especially the United States. Ukraine currently produces over 70 percent of the weapons it uses to fight the Russians. Because these weapons have proven themselves in combat, other nations seeking innovative, affordable options find them attractive.

Ukraine has more than 500 defense-related companies, and most are looking for export customers or co-production deals in which other nations produce Ukrainian-designed weapons. Ukraine regularly demonstrates its ability to rapidly develop, produce, and deploy new systems in combat. When problems arise, Ukrainian manufacturers fix them quickly. Ukraine has become the gold standard for defense production, bringing in over $100 billion in foreign investment. NATO defense manufacturers not only received more business but also increased the ability to produce new, drone-related weapons in large quantities. As NATO arms itself for a potential war with Russia after 2030, NATO builds weapons and equipment that will defend NATO member Ukraine and the other 32 NATO countries.

By invading Ukraine, Russia has created a neighbor that has become militarily and economically stronger and free to trade with NATO nations, while Russia is crippled by economic sanctions.

James F Dunnigan