Ukraine’s Defense Ministry Buys Over $27 Million in DJI Drones

The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine has made a significant investment in Drone Technology, purchasing over 8,000 DJI Mavic drones worth more than 1 billion Ukrainian hryvnias ($27 million USD). The acquisition, made through the ministry’s Lethal Defense Acquisition Agency, is aimed at bolstering Ukraine’s defense capabilities and increasing the effectiveness of military operations.

Massive Drone Purchase

The Lethal Defense Acquisition Agency has concluded new contracts for the purchase of 4,200 DJI Mavic 3E drones with additional equipment. This brings the total number of DJI Mavics contracted by the agency to 8,200 sets, consisting of 7,200 DJI Mavic 3E and 1,000 DJI Mavic 3T models. The total value of the contracts stands at UAH 1.1 billion ($30 million USD).

Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Klimenkov emphasized the importance of drones in modern warfare, stating, “Drones have evolved into an essential component of modern warfare. They strengthen our defense capabilities, increasing military operations’ effectiveness. Therefore, the procurement of drones is one of the main tasks of the Ministry of Defense.”

While exact numbers are not provided, the research indicates Ukraine has purchased well over 10,000 DJI Mavic drones in 2024 alone, at a cost of tens of millions of dollars. However, their monthly losses are also extremely high at around 10,000 drones per month, largely due to Russian jamming and electronic warfare. Ukraine is working to ramp up domestic drone production to offset these staggering losses.

Cost Savings and Efficiency

The average price for one DJI Mavic 3E with three additional batteries and a charger was UAH 126,300 ($3,400 USD), while the DJI Mavic 3T with the same accessories cost UAH 194,200 ($5,200 USD).

Maryna Bezrukova, director of the Lethal Defense Acquisition Agency, highlighted the cost savings achieved through these acquisitions, stating, “Through these acquisitions alone we were able to save over 65 million hryvnias ($1.7 million USD) from the estimated cost. And this is subject to the condition that we use the post-payment principle to ensure delivery to the greatest extent practicable. For us, this is an opportunity to purchase even more drones for the troops, which are critical on the front lines.”

Ongoing Procurement Efforts

In addition to the completed contracts, the Defense Procurement Agency has conducted successful auctions for an additional 4,000 DJI Mavic 3E and 1,500 DJI Mavic 3T drones as of May 20, with contracts expected to be signed in the near future.

DroneXL’s Take

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense’s substantial investment in DJI drones highlights the growing importance of unmanned aerial vehicles in modern warfare. Despite DJI’s stance against the use of their consumer drones for military purposes, the popularity of these drones on both sides of the conflict underscores their versatility and effectiveness in various applications.

As the war in Ukraine continues, the acquisition of advanced drone technology by the Ukrainian military could play a crucial role in enhancing their defense capabilities and providing a tactical advantage on the battlefield. The cost savings achieved through these purchases also demonstrate the ministry’s commitment to maximizing the value of their resources while ensuring that their troops are well-equipped to face the challenges ahead.