Fighting in the Middle East has exposed that many countries are poorly prepared for new forms of warfare, notably mass drone attacks. Attempts to shoot down Iranian drones in the Gulf using costly Western air-defense missiles have met with limited success.
Over four years of conflict, Ukraine has developed cheaper, effective ways to counter Iranian and Russian drones. That experience—and Ukraine’s interceptor drones—has drawn growing international interest.
“It is clear to everyone that today, only Ukraine’s experience can truly help intercept massive attacks by (Iranian) Shahed drones,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a WhatsApp exchange with journalists. He added that interceptor drones rely on Ukraine’s pilots, software and radar systems to work effectively.
But Ukrainian experts warn the window for exclusive demand is short. Dmytro Sledyuk of the Dronarium Academy says Ukraine can supply interceptor drones now, but the technology is not uniquely complex and will be quickly copied and produced elsewhere. “They are heavily modified FPV drones,” he noted.
Sledyuk called Ukrainian know-how a “valuable commodity” and urged the government to cut bureaucratic hurdles so companies and the military can respond quickly to international demand. If the export and support process drags on, interest may evaporate.
Zelenskyy said Kyiv has received 11 requests from Iran’s neighbors, European states and the US for help against Iranian drones. Ukraine has already made “concrete decisions and concrete support” in some cases. He told The New York Times that Kyiv deployed a team of experts and interceptor drones to protect US bases in Jordan from Iranian combat drones. Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council and the armed forces vet requests to ensure domestic defenses aren’t compromised.
What Ukraine can offer
Training a drone-defense pilot takes about five months, according to Sledyuk. That includes theory and extensive motor-skill training needed to manually guide fast interceptors against moving targets. This kind of training cannot be compressed into weeks.
Ukraine can provide fully trained specialists, on-site training programs to scale pilots quickly, and operational know-how built up during the war with Russia. Marta Bukhtiiarova of the Kyiv School of Economics says partners have welcomed Ukrainian innovations but often lack the ability to use them or understand their tactical value. The crisis with Iran could widen appreciation for integrating Ukraine’s combat experience into other militaries’ approaches.
Zelenskyy has offered Ukraine’s combat-proven technology in exchange for stronger air defenses for Ukraine—Patriot batteries and related systems—and diplomatic pressure on Russia. Kyiv has proposed a broader “drone deal” with Washington based on Ukraine’s experience and production capacity. Former US President Donald Trump recently said the US would not need support for drone defense against Iran.
Export challenges and opportunities
In early February Zelenskyy announced Ukraine would open to arms exports and planned ten export offices in Europe by 2026. Yet manufacturers complain that exporting drones is nearly impossible under current rules. The state’s large wartime procurement has peaked, and many firms risk halting production unless they can access export markets.
Bukhtiiarova argues exports are crucial for company stability and national defense: selling abroad sustains firms through the war and beyond. Yevhen Motolyshenko of Athlon Avia says exports would let companies scale production, generate profits, and reinvest in Ukraine with new capital and technologies. He also suggests joint production with international partners, which would attract investment and open access to international funding programs.
Manufacturing Ukrainian drones abroad could reduce the risk of Russian strikes on production sites and help partners by locating production within their territory. For these benefits to materialize, Ukraine needs a stable, clear export policy and streamlined procedures to deploy specialists and technology quickly.
Conclusion
Ukraine’s hands-on experience fighting drone swarms, trained personnel, and cost-effective interceptor solutions are in demand as countries face new aerial threats. But the technologies can be copied fast, and Ukraine must act swiftly to export equipment and expertise while safeguarding its own defense. Simplified export rules, rapid government decisions, and international production partnerships would let Ukraine turn battlefield innovation into lasting industrial and security cooperation.
This article originally appeared in Ukrainian.