Ukraine to produce millions of attack drones this year as US lags behind with stricter rules

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Ukraine to produce millions of attack drones this year as US lags behind with stricter rules
Romania downs Russian Shahed drone over Black Sea as NATO jets intercept third incursion in days
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The United States is lagging behind Ukraine in drone production, with Ukraine set to produce between six and seven million small attack drones this year, compared to the Pentagon's cumulative order of just under 200,000 drones by February. This comes as the Pentagon imposes stricter rules requiring drones to be made with U.S.-made parts, complicating production efforts.
Travis Metz, director adjunct and director operaţional al Unităţii de Inovare în Apărare, stated that Ukraine is expected to produce between six and seven million small attack drones this year, or about 500,000 per month. In comparison, the Pentagon's $1.1 billion program has ordered just under 200,000 drones cumulatively by February.
Metz acknowledged that it is much harder to go from zero to 200,000 than to expand production once a domestic capacity is established. He also noted that the new regulations, which require drones to be made with U.S.-made parts, make production more difficult. "Este un lucru din ce în ce mai dificil," Metz said, adding that the majority of drones purchased in an earlier phase likely contained Chinese motors.
Meanwhile, the European Union has condemned Russia for drone incursions into Romanian airspace. The EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, stated that the incident was an intentional violation of Romanian airspace and posed a significant threat to regional security. "Am transmis condamnarea fermă a încălcării intenţionate a spaţiului aerian al României de către drone ruseşti," a spokesperson for Kallas said.
In other developments, the Italian mafia is reportedly seeking to acquire military drones similar to those used in Ukraine. Prosecutor Maurizio de Lucia from Palermo warned about the mafia's interest in acquiring such technology. "Am descoperit arme prezentate ca având originea în Salento (regiunea Apulia), dar care proveneau, de fapt, din Balcani, din fosta Iugoslavie," de Lucia said.
Romania is set to begin producing military drones in partnership with a Ukrainian company. The collaboration between Romanian company OVES Enterprise and Ukrainian manufacturer EDRONE will see the production of military drones, including kamikaze models, in Cluj-Napoca.
The Pentagon's new rules aim to create a fully domestic supply chain for drone production. Metz expressed confidence that the U.S. would eventually catch up with Ukraine's drone production capabilities. "Nu văd niciun motiv pentru care nu ar trebui... să fim şi noi campionii mondiali în acest sens," he said.
The EU's condemnation of Russia's actions includes a call for additional sanctions against Moscow. The Italian mafia's interest in military drones highlights the growing demand for such technology among non-state actors.
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