In 2024, Ukraine experienced a significant shift from relying on Western-donated weaponry to utilizing domestically produced equipment. Approximately 1,000 items of weapons and military equipment, approved for use on the battlefield last year, were manufactured locally. The plans for 2025 are even more ambitious, including the production of 30,000 long-range drones and 3,000 cruise missiles and missile drones. While future assistance from its main military donor, the United States, remains uncertain, Ukraine is increasingly betting on its own capabilities and vast technological potential.
Military transfers to Ukraine:
On December 30, U.S. President Biden announced a new security assistance package for Ukraine worth nearly $2.5 billion. This assistance includes an additional $1.25 billion drawdown package for the Ukrainian military and a $1.22 billion Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) package.
Latvia prepared a large batch of unmanned aerial vehicles for transfer to Ukraine.
The first batch of French Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets is set to arrive in Ukraine by January 20, 2025, according to reports. The initial batch is expected to include three to six aircraft, which will likely replace Ukraine’s aging fleet of Su-24 bombers.
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine received equipment worth €3.3 million from the IT coalition of countries, namely Estonia, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.
Two hundred Ukrainian pilots have completed basic training in the UK prior to flying F-16 fighter jets.
Military cooperation projects with partners:
Ukraine is planning to raise more than $1 billion in 2025 to develop the so-called Danish model of funding for Ukraine's defense production. Denmark became the first country to offer to donate arms to Ukraine via direct purchases from the Ukrainian defense industry, as Kyiv's defense budget does not match the capacities of domestic weapons production.
A Ukrainian defense initiative, Steel Front, is producing steel armor for the Patriot air-defense batteries. The armor consists of small plates that wrap around the exterior of the Patriot's control unit. It is intended to protect the highly valuable systems from Russian missile shrapnel and debris.
Ukraine reinforces IRIS-T air defense system with modular armor by Metinvest.
Military production and internal affairs of Ukraine:
In 2025, Ukraine plans to produce 30,000 long-range drones and 3,000 cruise missiles and missile-drones. Also, Ukrainian defense industry enterprises plan to expand their production capacity to $30 billion.
The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine has presented fibre-optic cable-controlled FPV drones to the military, among them potential operators of the drones.