Ukrainian defence firms look to manufacture drones in Australia

“There are actually at least two major Ukrainian drone manufacturing companies that approached me, both of them were looking at Australia as a potential place where drones could be manufactured here for Ukraine’s needs, but also for the needs of other countries,” Ambassador Myroshnychenko said, speaking with Australian Aviation sister publication Defence Connect at the event.

“It’s still early stages … but there is definitely an interest and there is an opportunity … (One) specific company are focusing a lot on interceptor drones, which are used to intercept those Shahed-type drones. But they are also producing those mid-range attack drones, 15 to 20 kilometres (in range).

“I think there’s adaptability (in the Ukrainian defence industry). And if there’s a Ukrainian manufacturer here in Australia, that would be an edge, that would have a comparative advantage in a way, because they can adapt from the battlefield and they can improve it. It’s an ongoing kind of continuous, steep, rapid development, which is happening with those manufacturers.

“I think that would be a great opportunity for Australia to build their own sovereign capability for new platforms … That experience of Ukraine in asymmetric warfare would be of huge value to Australia because if there is any imaginary enemy that you may face in the future probably will be much bigger, right? And therefore, it’s some useful lessons out there.”

Ambassador Myroshnychenko also noted the continuing work being performed in the negotiations for a bilateral security agreement between Australia and Ukraine, as well as the agreement’s potential to be a political framework bringing investment opportunities to fruition.

Ambassador Myroshnychenko has previously advocated for battle-tested Ukrainian military technology, tactics and experience to be shared with Australia.

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“We can now do more for Australia in terms of new technology, new sovereign defence capabilities and asymmetric warfare,” Myroshnychenko said during a previous Justice Denied Conference in Melbourne.

“For the past three years, Ukraine has relied on the support of Western countries, including Australia, to send tanks, artillery and ammunition, for which we will be forever grateful, but the way our military has developed, I think the ADF has much to learn from Ukraine on asymmetric warfare and defence technology. It’s state of the art driven by necessity.

“We get equipment and technology from partners; we test what works on the battlefield and improve what works. Operational autonomous systems are something we have learned how to do, and we have demonstrated how effective they can be.

“Australia needs its own manufacturing capacity of various weapons and military equipment, to have sovereign defence capability. Drones have become a very cheap and efficient way to build up deterrence because you can carry drones 4,000 kilometres away and deploy them.

“We can teach Australia how to do it and help them set up the production you need that works.”