Speaking at a panel discussion at Ukraine House in Davos, Minister of Strategic Industries Oleksandr Kamyshin said that Ukraine had begun to develop NATO-style artillery systems and had doubled ammunition production. The production of drones and thermal imagers is also expanding, Interfax Ukraine reported.
"We are now having a unique experience of transition from Soviet-era standards to NATO standards and have already started producing artillery systems according to NATO standards. As my president said, we are already starting to do this. We have managed to double the production of ammunition. This is what we should pay the most attention to," the minister said.
According to him, the need for components that are severely lacking will be met by establishing joint ventures with foreign partners. In addition, Ukraine has begun assembling hybrid air defence systems.
"Of course, any air defence system, if a new one is to be developed, takes a long time... And in order not to wait for years, we created a home-made air defence system. We took Soviet components and added Western missiles. Or, let's say, we took Western missiles, Western launchers, and used them to launch Soviet missiles," he said.
In addition, drone production is developing rapidly in Ukraine. He also said that the cost of producing drones has dropped significantly: in particular, the cost of producing FPV drones has fallen from $1,000 to $500. And the cheapest drones produced in the country cost $300. The production of thermal imagers is also developing.
"If you wanted to buy something made in Ukraine a year ago, you wouldn't have had much luck. There were some brands, but there was not enough craftsmanship. This year has proved that we have built this industry. And it has become a visible and important component of the defence industry. We produce what works in the sky, on the water surface and underwater. Everything works," the minister said.
Earlier, he said that the Armed Forces of Ukraine used the FrankenSAM air defence system in combat conditions for the first time during the Russian attack in the early hours of 17 January.