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Ukraine’s Weapons Production Has Tripled in 2024, Surpassing $10 Billion
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Last year, Ukraine produced $10 billion worth of weapons—ten times more than in 2022 and three times more than in 2023, according to a study by the Ukrainian Institute for the Future, cited by The Economist in an article on April 6.
This involved over 800 private and state-owned companies and more than 300,000 workers. The 2025 production is expected to reach $15 billion, with overall capacity capable of producing weapons worth $35 billion, though a lack of funding is holding back growth.
The publication suggests that financial support from Kyiv’s European allies could be an effective contribution to Ukraine’s efforts.
Ukraine is already covering nearly half of its weapons needs, says Andriy Zagorodnyuk, former Minister of Defense of Ukraine and now head of the Kyiv Center for Strategic Studies. Russian strikes have had little impact on this progress.
“Some production facilities have been hit five times or more, yet they continue to operate,” Zagorodnyuk says.
According to the news agency, Ukraine plans to produce 5 million first-person view drones this year, up from 2 million last year. It also aims to manufacture 30,000 larger long-range drones capable of striking deep within Russia.
The outlet added that Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has set a target of 3,000 advanced cruise missiles, such as the new Long Neptune, which has a 1,000 km range, along with “rocket-drones” like the turbojet-powered Palianytsia. However, missile expert Fabian Hoffmann believes the targets for larger missiles may be overly ambitious.
The Economist describes Ukraine’s electronic warfare (EW) developments as among the most advanced in the world, surpassing both Russian and European systems. Specifically, this includes the “Lima” system, which is capable of disrupting the course of Russian guided aerial bombs.
A key issue for Ukraine’s defense industry is reported to be the lack of air defense systems. The demand for them is so high that even imports are unable to meet the need. However, in January, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi announced that Ukraine is developing its own air defense system. Additionally, Ukraine has established a joint venture with the French company Thales, one of the manufacturers of the SAMP-T system.
On February 8, Zelenskyy met with the Chair of NATO’s Military Committee, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, where he showcased Ukraine’s long-range weaponry and discussed key aspects of military cooperation.
