It’s a complicated question. Some production facilities exist, but they’re nowhere near enough to meet Ukraine’s battlefield needs—let alone anyone else’s. In the article, I note existing cooperation: several European countries can produce, for instance, microelectronics, but at a higher cost than Chinese components. Raw materials are an even bigger challenge. If these countries don’t have them domestically, there’s only so much they can do. And developing new mines typically takes a decade on average.
Searching for alternatives, substitutes. That’s a task for the great minds.
Thank you for this material
This is an eye-opener. Ukraine has done an impressive job gearing up with life-saving FPVs.
Thanks!
Excellent reporting on the reality on the ground -so to speak.
Any idea what the ramp up time might be for the US, or EU to fill in the gaps in Ukraine's production with motors, optics, carbon, etc?
It’s a complicated question. Some production facilities exist, but they’re nowhere near enough to meet Ukraine’s battlefield needs—let alone anyone else’s. In the article, I note existing cooperation: several European countries can produce, for instance, microelectronics, but at a higher cost than Chinese components. Raw materials are an even bigger challenge. If these countries don’t have them domestically, there’s only so much they can do. And developing new mines typically takes a decade on average.
Searching for alternatives, substitutes. That’s a task for the great minds.