Inside the Ukraine drone tech factories that can help the US military
'In Ukraine, there is a phrase people have been using — that 'quantity' becomes 'quality,'' said Nomad Drones co-founder and CEO Andrii Fedorov.
A single, highly advanced interceptor missile or rocket — such as those in America's Patriot air-defense systems, can cost between $100,000 and $250,000, according to Pentagon data.
3 Nomad Drones co-founder and CEO Andrii Fedorov with an interceptor drone in the company's Kyiv factory.
Kostiantyn Yaremenko
While those are effective for countering enemy missiles and other advanced air capabilities, they are not financially feasible to defend against Iranian-made, Russian-launched Shahed drones — which Moscow has deployed in large quantities against Ukraine due in part to their cost of under $10,000.
Nomad Drones, and a second company that requested anonymity to avoid Russian targeting after having been struck multiple times, are in the business of making hundreds of thousands of small interceptor missiles and drones — that often are even less expensive than Shaheds.
'There is absolutely no sense to waste a $1 million weapon to shoot down a $50,000 Shahed,' Federov said. 'But if you have 20 drones, then the capacity costs you, say, $40,000 to shoot it down.'
This affordability is especially critical in a war where Moscow sent more than 700 drones through the skies in a single night just last week.
'It's all about cost-effectiveness,' one of the second company's employees told The Post. 'The world is unfortunately becoming a more dangerous place every day. We do understand that even though Western technologies are so cool and modern — they are expensive at the same time.
'Obviously, we don't want anyone to fight and we want peace, but we live in the real world and there will be a need for relatively cheap yet effective solutions that potentially may be used by our Western allies and partners in their conflicts if they happen.'
3 Nomad Drones employees at work Friday.
Caitlin Doornbos/NY Post
The anonymous company is making approximately 3-foot-long missiles designed to stop enemy drones before they can reach their targets, which in the case of Russia's invasion often include civilian homes — and civilians themselves.
'These can save so many lives,' the employee said.
Meanwhile, Nomad Drones and others in the field are producing tens of thousands of interceptor drones each month.
These aircraft, which cost between $3,000 and $7,000 depending on their size, carry explosives that can be detonated remotely upon approach to an enemy vehicle to destroy it before it reaches a target.
While the US has long had highly advanced and expensive precision drones developed for special forces to wipe out adversaries with pinpoint accuracy, the reality of modern warfare — with hundreds of drones being launched at the same time to overwhelm opponents — would make such reliance ruinously costly.
3 Drones are equipped with fiber-optic cables, allowing them to fly without getting jammed by radar.
Caitlin Doornbos/NY Post
The 'mega deal' discussed by the Trump administration and the Ukrainian government, which Kyiv President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed in an exclusive interview with The Post earlier this week, would provide not just drones, but technology to rapidly advance America's unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capabilities.
Such a deal could be transformative for the military and American national security, with officials and drone experts warning that US technology lags far behind Russia and China.
'The people of America need this technology, and you need to have it in your arsenal,' Zelensky said Wednesday.
'I think this is really a mega deal, a win-win, as they say.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
San Francisco Chronicle
17 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Zelenskyy faces backlash as Ukrainians protest new anti-corruption law
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian activists called for more protests against a law they say weakens the country's anti-corruption bodies. The legislation has also drawn rebukes from European Union officials and international rights groups. Thousands of people gathered in the capital and other cities across Ukraine on Tuesday evening to urge President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to veto a controversial bill passed by Ukraine's Parliament earlier that day. After Zelenskyy approved it, activists called on social media for another demonstration in the center of Kyiv at 8 p.m. Wednesday. The legislation tightens government oversight of two key anti-corruption agencies. Critics say the step could significantly weaken the independence of those agencies and grant Zelenskyy's circle greater influence over investigations. Fighting entrenched corruption is crucial for Ukraine's aspirations to join the EU and maintain access to billions of dollars in Western aid in its fight against Russia's three-year invasion. Instead of vetoing the bill as protestors demanded, Zelenskyy signed it into law and argued for it, in a move that risked his public support after more than three years of war with Russia. Zelenskyy said the measure clears out 'Russian influence' from the fight against corruption and ensures punishment for those found guilty of it, after what he said were yearslong delays in criminal proceedings involving huge amounts of money. 'This is what Ukraine really needs,' Zelenskyy said in a Telegram post after midnight Wednesday. 'The cases that have been lying dormant must be investigated.' 'For years, officials who have fled Ukraine have been casually living abroad for some reason – in very nice countries and without legal consequences – and this is not normal,' he said. He didn't provide examples of what he said was Russian interference. Russian officials relished Zelenskyy's difficulties. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova mocked Zelenskyy's claim of Russian infiltration into the anti-corruption agency, noting sarcastically that 'they might just as well pull a couple of bears out of the corner.' Zelenskyy has been the international face of Ukraine's determination to defeat Russia's all-out invasion, and his domestic troubles are an unwelcome diversion from the war effort. Delegations from Russia and Ukraine were set to meet in Istanbul on Wednesday for their third round of direct talks in two months, although the Kremlin didn't confirm the date or venue and its spokesman warned against expecting 'any magical breakthroughs' in the meeting. The changes would grant the prosecutor general new authority over investigations and cases handled by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO). In a post on X, the EU's Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos expressed concern over the vote in the Ukrainian Parliament, called the Rada, calling it 'a serious step back.' The Ukrainian branch of Transparency International criticized Parliament's decision, saying it undermines one of the most significant reforms since what Ukraine calls its Revolution of Dignity in 2014, and damages trust with international partners. It accused authorities of 'dismantling' the country's anti-corruption architecture. The mood of anger and frustration among the war-weary Ukrainians prevailed in the crowd Tuesday. Some protesters accused Ukraine's leadership of prioritizing loyalty and personal connections over the fight against corruption. 'Those who swore to protect the laws and the Constitution have instead chosen to shield their inner circle, even at the expense of Ukrainian democracy,' said veteran Oleh Symoroz, sitting in a wheelchair because both his legs were amputated after he was wounded in 2022.
New York Post
17 minutes ago
- New York Post
Illegal migrant accused of shooting off-duty CBP officer in NYC was only vetted over Zoom before being set free under Biden admin: sources
The illegal immigrant accused of shooting an off-duty border officer in a Manhattan park was only vetted using Zoom before being released into the US under the Biden administration, The Post has learned. Dominican Republic national Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez, 21, waltzed across the US-Mexico border into Arizona in April 2023 — during the raging migrant crisis that saw federal agents take drastic measures in an attempt to free up resources. That month alone, the US saw a wave of more than 183,000 migrants come across the southern border. 3 Mugshot of Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez. Obtained by NY Post 'The whole system was overwhelmed by what the Biden administration was allowing,' Charles Marino, former senior law enforcement advisor to DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano, told The Post. 'The end game was to facilitate the processing of as many illegals into the country as possible,' Marino said. Overwhelmed Border Patrol agents recruited support from their colleagues up north at the US-Canada crossing, who interviewed illegal border crossers over Zoom to speed up their release, federal law enforcement sources said. One Homeland Security source fumed that the virtual questioning 'was a nightmare' and that it simply 'can't' ensure proper vetting. Mora Nunez was nonetheless released into the US due to a lack of detention space at the border — with a notice to later appear in front of an immigration judge, sources said. 3 A video still of the two suspects in the shooting investigation. DHS He was instructed to report to his local Immigration and Customs Enforcement office, too, but doesn't appear to have done so, according to the sources. Border agents also didn't take a DNA sample from Mora Nunez — standard practice to find out if someone has a criminal history in the US — due to a shortage of swabs at the time, sources said. Mora Nunez's name was run through law enforcement databases by the agents, however, and no criminal history turned up at the time. An immigration judge ordered that the Dominican national be deported in 2023, after he failed to show up to court. Still, Mora Nunez stayed in the US, racking up a slew of arrests in New York City and at least one in Massachusetts — but was let go each time, authorities said. Questioning over Zoom is no longer employed now that the influx of migrants has eased under President Trump. 3 A handgun found at the shooting crime scene. Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock He is now accused of shooting the off-duty 42-year-old officer in the face as he sat with a female companion in Fort Washington Park Saturday night. An alleged accomplice, Christhian Aybar-Berroa, 22, also an illegal migrant from the Dominican Republic, helped with the botched robbery, officials said. Both are expected to face federal charges. The CBP agent, who has not been publicly identified, fired back with his own gun during the confrontation, hitting Mora Nunez three times, authorities said. Keep up with today's most important news Stay up on the very latest with Evening Update. Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters The suspects were later seen fleeing on a moped, and Mora Nunez was taken into custody after walking into a Bronx hospital with gunshot wounds. The victim was saved by NYPD cops who were responding to a nearby mugging in the area, where the same suspects are believed to have stolen a woman's cellphone just five minutes before the shootout, said Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny. The federal agent underwent surgery Sunday and was in stable condition, sources said. In the aftermath of the shooting, President Trump unleashed on the problematic catch and release system that allowed Mora Nunez to stay in the country. 'Last night, in New York City, an incredible CBP Officer was shot in the face by an Illegal Alien Monster freed into the Country under Joe Biden,' Trump wrote in a Truth Social Post Sunday. 'He was apprehended at the Border in April 2023 but, instead of being deported, was RELEASED,' Trump continued. 'The CBP Officer bravely fought off his attacker, despite his wounds, demonstrating enormous Skill and Courage.'
Time Magazine
18 minutes ago
- Time Magazine
The Violent Gaza-ification of the West Bank
With all eyes on Gaza and on the fallout from Israel's war on five other fronts—Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, Iranian militias in Syria and Iraq, as well as Iran itself—few have noted the unprecedented uptick in violence in the West Bank. Even the murder earlier in July of Saif Musallet, an American citizen, and the attack on CNN's Jeremy Diamond as he was on his way to visit the family of the slain American—both by violent West Bank settlers—did little to attract attention to what is an increasingly unstable tinderbox, fanned by convergence of troubling factors Although President Donald Trump's early January decision to lift sanctions on settlers sent the wrong message, a series of significant developments on the ground have triggered the dramatic increase in West Bank violence: Israeli extremists seizing what they see as an opportunity; their leaders using government platforms to provide support; the IDF looking the other way; and many Palestinian youth becoming radicalized. Looming over it all is the shadow of two of the most extreme leaders of the annexationist minority in Israel, entrusted, since late 2022, by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with portfolios directly relevant to West Bank policies. One, Itamar Ben Gvir, a self-proclaimed Jewish Supremacist, controls the national police force. Since entering office, he has enacted a 'hands of' policy concerning Jewish settler terrorists, relaxed the prerequisites for owning weapons and, prioritizing West Bank settlers, launched a campaign for Israelis to arm themselves. The other, Bezalel Smotrich, employs his dual position as minister of finance and as a minister in the ministry of defense in the service of his three publicly declared objectives: rapid expansion of Jewish settlements, increase pressure on Palestinians to emigrate, and financially choking the Palestinian Authority to bring about its collapse. A third, Minister of Defense Israel Katz, added fuel to the fire on Nov. 22, 2024, by depriving the Shin Bet (Israel's Internal Security Agency) of a vital instrument in dealing with Jewish detainees: administrative detention. With settlers following legal advice not to cooperate with investigators and as evidence obtained by clandestine means cannot be used in an open court lest it exposes sources, court-supervised administrative detention has long proved essential in fighting terrorism—from extreme settlers or otherwise. Emboldened by their leaders' serving in such powerful positions, extremist settlers—by now organized and armed—have made the most of the situation as the Israeli public and the world at large focuses on Gaza. The result: The number of incidents involving armed settlers assaulting Palestinian villages has increased dramatically over the past three years, doubling during the first half of 2025 as compared to the same period the previous year. An additional factor relates to the IDF. Its manpower stretched to the limit, and the top brass consumed by tending to simultaneous challenges from several fronts, lower-rank commanders of units deployed to the West Bank are often reluctant to confront violent settlers, primarily because of the support they enjoy from senior government circles. Last, but hardly least: With West Bank Palestinians harassed by settlers day and night, Palestinian youth, who are being put at risk, find neither the IDF nor the nearly bankrupt Palestinian Authority protecting their families. Images of the endless suffering of Gazans add to the combustible mix. With no hope for a better future, certainly not independence—which the current Israeli government vehemently opposes—their elders, scarred by the pains of the Second Intifada, have no persuasive argument to dissuade them from repeating what the elders have long concluded was a mistake: armed resistance. Consequently, young West Bank Palestinians are increasingly inclined to join militant groups or form their own, and take to arms. Thus, Israeli extremists and radicalized Palestinians feed on each other, using each other to justify violence, killing innocents, vandalizing property, and risking a major conflagration in the process. 'Terrorism is terrorism, regardless of religion, race, or gender,' declared a recent urgent letter to Israel's Minister of Defense. Sent on behalf of Commanders for Israel's Security (CIS)—Israel's largest group of retired generals and diplomats, of which I am a member, it alerted the Minister to the dire consequences of 'organized Jewish groups…setting the area ablaze.' 'Resources must be mobilized,' we urged, 'so that those guilty of terrorism are apprehended, investigated, and swiftly brought to justice.' Although even the murder of an American citizen did little to change the dynamics, recent settlers' assaults on IDF soldiers deployed to protect them, might have. Even those who shamefully looked the other way when the victims were Palestinians—PM Netanyahu included—suddenly realized that this lawlessness could not be tolerated. 'No civilized country can tolerate violent and anarchic acts of burning a military facility, damaging IDF property and attacking security personnel by citizens of the country,' said Netanyahu. In contrast, opposition leader Yair Lapid described the events as 'Jewish terrorists, gangs of criminals, who feel backed by the (governing) coalition.' Time will tell whether this wakeup call triggers effective measures to end Jewish terrorism, which is as immoral as any other kind of terrorism. It also undermines Israel's security and legitimacy. What is certain, from my vantage point, is this: if it does not spark those measures, this cycle of violence will only lead to the Gaza-ification of the West Bank, with tragic consequences for both peoples and further destabilizing effects well beyond the Israeli-Palestinian arena.
