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US Department of Defense Taps Ukrainian Drone Firms for Major Military Program
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The US Department of Defense has unveiled a list of 25 suppliers selected for the first stage of its Drone Dominance Program, a major initiative aimed at acquiring low-cost UAVs for the US Army with a budget of $1.1 billion.
According to a press release issued on February 3, the first phase of the program will commence on February 18 at Fort Benning.
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Notably, two Ukrainian drone manufacturers—Ukrainian Defense Drones and “General Chereshnya”—will participate in this initial stage. US military operators will test the drones from these companies, with evaluations set to continue through the end of March 2026.
“General Chereshnya” is already well-known for its FPV drones, which are actively used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. As reported by Defense Express on February 4, the company will present not just individual drones, but a comprehensive system solution that integrates intelligence gathering, target identification, and neutralization tasks.
According to the company’s communication director, Marko Kushnir, to qualify for the program, they had to submit a detailed technical description of their system, confirm compliance with NDAA and US legislation, and demonstrate the ability to mass-produce in a short time.
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“The Drone Dominance Program explicitly stipulates that preference will be given to production and assembly within the US or allied countries. If we win, we plan to localize part of the production and final assembly in the US or in a partner allied jurisdiction, build a separate, compliant supply chain for the US contract, and adopt a distributed production model, where key components and final integration are geographically separated,” Kushnir said in a comment to Defense Express.
General Chereshnya representative emphasized that it is crucial for contracts with the Ukrainian Armed Forces and international partners to be kept separate, with each assigned to different production streams rather than competing with each other.
He explained that Ukraine's experience allows the country to scale production more rapidly than many Western companies.
“In fact, it is about a model where Ukrainian combat experience is transformed into scaling, international orders, and ultimately growth opportunities for Ukraine,” he added.
Earlier, it was reported that Ukraine’s domestically produced interceptor drone, General Chereshnya AIR, has emerged as the most effective model in neutralizing Russian drones.
With 548 confirmed UAV takedowns recorded in October 2025, according to its developer, General Chereshnya, the General Chereshnya AIR has become a key tool in Ukraine's layered air defense system.
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While the number may appear modest, analysts highlight that it pertains to a single UAV platform amidst a broad range of systems used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The General Chereshnya AIR is specifically engineered to intercept reconnaissance UAVs, directly disrupting Russian intelligence gathering and fire-control coordination. Additionally, it has been adapted to counter decoy drones like the Gerbera, commonly used by Russia to overwhelm and deceive Ukrainian air defenses.
Previously, General Chereshnya introduced its enhanced AIR Pro interceptor drone, engineered to target and destroy Russian reconnaissance and attack drones.
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