The administration of US President Joseph Biden has declassified information on how it has supported Ukraine's military drone industry, The New York Times reports.
On Thursday, 16 January, US officials said they had made large investments to help Ukraine start and expand UAV production. Much of the aid to the Ukrainian military, such as billions of dollars in missiles, air defence systems, tanks, artillery and training, has been publicly reported. But other support remained largely in the shadows.
This included assistance to Kyiv in developing a new generation of drones and revolutionising the way it wages war. In particular, in addition to technical support, the US has spent significant funds, including $1.5 billion sent last September, to stimulate drone production in Ukraine.
Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said that this support has had a ‘real strategic impact’ on the war.
‘We've seen unmanned aerial vehicles play an increasingly important role in the fighting in Ukraine and will play a central role in all future battles,’ Sullivan said.
US efforts have included money to support drone manufacturers and purchase parts. The US also sent intelligence officers to Ukraine to help develop the programme.
In an interview this week, CIA Director William Burns indirectly mentioned his agency's support for Ukraine's drone programme.
Sullivan said that US efforts have accelerated in preparation for Ukraine's second counter-offensive. This offensive in 2023 was less successful, as Ukraine did not gain as much territory as it wanted due to Russia's use of drones.
According to US officials, the 2023 counter-offensive was a hard lesson. Russian drones attacked tanks and armoured vehicles provided by the US and Europe as they tried to cross minefields.
After the counteroffensive, U.S. officials said they quickly increased support for Ukraine's drone manufacturers, building on Kyiv's efforts to develop its own industry. In addition to financial assistance, the Biden administration has worked to establish links between US technology companies and Ukrainian drone manufacturers.
In the autumn of 2024, the Pentagon allocated $800 million for the production of UAVs in Ukraine, which was used to purchase components and finance manufacturers. When Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the White House in September, Biden said that another $1.5bn would be channelled into Ukraine's drone industry.
The Americans believe that their investment has made Ukrainian drones more efficient and deadly. They noted that naval drones have destroyed a quarter of the Russian Black Sea Fleet and that drones deployed on the front line have helped slow Russia's advance in eastern Ukraine.
Sullivan said that the drive to create a drone industry in Ukraine has provided ‘invaluable lessons’ that the Biden administration has begun to integrate into the US defence industry.