The US secretly allocated $1.5B in the Ukrainian drone industry’s development. The Biden administration declassified this data as part of the publication of documents detailing military aid to Ukraine. In September 2024, the Pentagon allocated $800M to purchase components and finance Ukrainian drone manufacturers. In addition, American intelligence assisted in building the drone program.
“The assistance included not only the exchange of intelligence but also the support of systems that have proven their effectiveness on the battlefield,” said CIA Director William Burns.
Thanks to the US’ support, Ukraine began the domestic production of a new generation of drones and was later able to expand it further. US President’s National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan emphasized that this had a “real strategic impact” on the course of the war. Ukrainian drones have proved their effectiveness: Naval drones destroyed a quarter of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, and front-line drones significantly slowed Russia’s offensive in eastern Ukraine.
“This experience provided valuable lessons that the US has begun to integrate into its defense industry,” Sullivan concluded.