Ukraine is scaling up the production of its own drones, which will replace the Chinese DJI Mavic

Ukraine ramps up production of its own drones to replace Chinese DJI Mavic. The first thousands of Ukrainian models have already been delivered to the front lines.

This was reported by the publication Forbes.

Ukraine’s defence industry has made significant progress in drone production and has begun large-scale implementation of domestic models, which are gradually replacing the popular Chinese-made DJI Mavic drones.

DJI’s Mavic series quadcopters have long been considered the benchmark among civilian drones due to their compactness, high-quality cameras, and intelligent control systems.

However, after DJI banned the supply of its products to Ukraine, the issue of replacement became critically important. Additionally, the use of these drones poses security risks, as they may transmit technical data to the manufacturer, which is unacceptable in wartime conditions.

In response, Ukrainian engineers have developed a range of alternative models. Among them is the Yautja (Shmavi") from Ukropter, which features extended flight range, resistance to interference, and enhanced reliability.

Another development is the Zoom drone by Frontline Robotics, designed specifically for intense electronic warfare conditions. It is equipped with an AI-based visual navigation system that allows it to find its route even in the event of GPS loss and can return to the operator if communication is disrupted.

Experts note that, although some components are still imported, the share of Ukrainian-made parts is rapidly increasing. Frontline Robotics claims that only 15% of the components in their drones come from China.

Meanwhile, domestic companies have already established the production of key components—engines, batteries, controllers, and thermal imagers. For instance, the Motor-G factory produces over 100,000 engines per month, ensuring uninterrupted supplies for the front lines.