For European Drone Manufacturers, Ukraine Remains the Real Testing Ground
Ukraine has become the testing ground for drone technology, with both Russian and Ukrainian forces utilizing various unmanned aerial vehicles for observational and offensive purposes at the frontlines of the ongoing conflict. The presence of electronic countermeasures and weapons designed to disrupt drones ultimately is what has turned Ukraine into a testing ground for advancements in drone technology.
Some of these advancements are now being applied in non-military sectors. Manufacturers find it beneficial to highlight their drones' battle-tested status when marketing to defense departments, police forces, border authorities, rescue services, and civilian users.
“When we say, ‘This is a good machine, it works,’ people can believe us or not. But when it's the personnel in Ukraine stating their satisfaction, it carries more weight," says Bastien Mancini, president and co-founder of French drone manufacturer Delair. He notes that Delair's partnership with European defense contractor KNDS involves supplying Ukrainian forces with 100 explosive drones, which are marketed as “combat-proven.”
Mancini explains that civilian users of Delair's non-military drones also recognize the durability and effectiveness demonstrated in Ukraine, enhancing their confidence in using these drones for tasks like inspecting electrical cables.
Henri Seydoux, the founder and head of French drone manufacturer Parrot, finds Ukraine fascinating for drone technology due to its rapid innovation and frequently visits to engage with local manufacturers and military officials. He highlights that the dynamic situation in Ukraine provides valuable insights for companies producing military equipment. “Every company, let’s say, that makes military equipment or every army is very interested by drones. But the ones that really use them and understand how to use them is the Ukrainians.”
Other manufacturers also attest that involvement in Ukraine's drone technology landscape is crucial for staying relevant in the defense industry. The battlefield experiences have influenced European drone manufacturers in refining their products to meet the demands of harsh conditions.
For Ukraine, drones serve critical functions in both defensive and offensive operations, such as defending against Russian drone swarms targeting cities and providing aid for troops. Drones are critical for countering Russia's electronic warfare systems that jam and disable Ukrainian drones. Inexpensive, mass-produced drones that drop bombs have become crucial for Ukraine's resistance. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry has reported that it plans to acquire 4.5 million domestically produced drones this year for real-time guided operations, significantly increasing from the previous year's procurement.
"Drones have played a significant role in Ukraine," stated Alex Vorobei, the Ukrainian sales representative for Ailand Systems, a start-up developing mine-detecting drones. Vorobei, like other drone industry professional, believes that manufacturers not involved in Ukraine risk being left behind. “If you’re in the defense field and still not in Ukraine, it means you are nowhere,” Vorobei said at the Paris show.