Ukrainian Defense Drones will build its first American manufacturing plant in Northwest Ohio, an $18.4 million investment that is expected to create at least 300 jobs.
Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo, the co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, joined local partners to announce the company’s move June 29, which comes after receiving its first Pentagon contract.
The new plant will be in Holland, in Lucas County. According to a press release, it will support U.S. and allied demand for first-person-view drones, unmanned systems, training and testing and dual-use commercial applications.
“An all-hands-on deck approach won the day after our sustained engagement to attract one of the leading manufacturers of unmanned systems, Ukrainian Defense Drones — the U.S. arm of Ukraine’s F-Drones — to start assembly in Northwest Ohio,” Kaptur said. “UDD is on the cutting edge of drone technology and defense innovation, and its systems are battle-tested on the frontlines of Liberty defending the free people of Ukraine from Dictator Vladimir Putin’s merciless invasion.
“The urgent national security imperative of dominating the drone space and the economic benefits for our communities are why I’m proud to lead on these issues on Capitol Hill.”
Kaptur also noted that the drones will also be used by American troops, manufactured by Americans.
“With a talented workforce, proven manufacturing infrastructure, research, and testing, as well as a community that celebrates the shared benefits of working with our allies abroad, we are confident in our potential to be a leader in U.S. drone manufacturing,” Kaptur said. “Our region stands ready to create a future that will ensure jobs and industry leadership for Northwest Ohio’s manufacturing workforce.”
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine praised the announcement.
“There is no better place than Ohio for our allies to build the technology that strengthens our national defense, and UDD’s decision to invest here means 300 new jobs for the people of Lucas County,” DeWine said.
F-Drone CEO Stas Khutor added that the machines will be the first Ukrainian drones to be used by the U.S. military.
“The next step is to share the technology to produce these drones on American soil. We’re proud to support the vision behind the emerging US–Ukraine Drone Deal and to help strengthen the security and technological leadership of both our nations,” Khutor said. “Ukraine did more than adapt to drone warfare — it helped invent it. We were the first in the world to turn drones into a tool of national defense, to refine them under fire into something close to perfection, and to make them the backbone of our ability to hold the line against a far larger aggressor.”
Northwest Ohio’s future in defense
The Department of Defense’s Drone Dominance Program drove the relocation, a $1 billion plan to accelerate growth of the U.S. industrial base and rapidly arm combat units with low-cost, consumable drones at scale.
By 2027, the program intends to buy more than 200,000 lethal drones for the toughest battlefield environments.
Kaptur’s office noted the factory narrowed down its options to Texas and Ohio, but skilled labor and manufacturing experience tipped the scales.
U2D2 Chairman Rear Admiral (Ret.) Michael Hewitt added that Ohio is expected to become a hub for unmanned drone technology manufacturing.
“U2D2 has the honor to assist over a dozen Ukrainian and Eastern European companies cumulatively producing more than 10,000 drones per day, that have elected to become part of the Department of War Drone Dominance program. UDD’s Ohio facility is just the beginning,” Hewitt said. “We believe that Ohio will become a vertically integrated manufacturing hub for all types of unmanned systems and their components.”
Ukrainian Defense Drones joins other aerospace and defense companies building in Ohio, such as Anduril and Joby Aviation.
The News-Messenger/News Herald
This article originally appeared on Port Clinton News Herald: Ukrainian drone company to build factory in Northwest Ohio
Reporting by USA Today Network, Port Clinton News Herald / Port Clinton News Herald
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By USA Today Network, Port Clinton News Herald | USA TODAY Network
