Drone defense in the Iran war: What can Ukraine offer?

Fighting in the Middle East has revealed that many nations are ill equipped to face new forms of warfare, including massive deployment of drones. Attempts to shoot down Iranian drones in the Gulf states using expensive missiles from Western air defense systems have had limited success.

However, in four years of war, Ukraine has learned to combat Iranian and Russian drones using significantly more cost-effective solutions. This has fueled growing interest in the country's interceptor drones and its first-hand expertise in drone defense.

"It is clear to everyone that today, only Ukraine's experience can truly help intercept massive attacks by (Iranian) Shahed drones," said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a WhatsApp conversation with journalists.

"I think everyone has realized that without our military, our pilots, without our software and our radar system, without all of that, the interceptor drones simply don't work."

Drones know-how has a short shelf life 

However, according to Dmytro Sledyuk of the Ukrainian Dronarium Academy, the current demand for Ukrainian technology and expertise is likely to peak soon.

"In the initial phase, Ukraine is ready to supply interceptor drones," he said. "But these will likely be quickly copied by partners and produced in larger quantities, as the technologies used by Ukraine are not particularly complex or unique. They are heavily modified FPV drones."

He told DW that Ukrainian expertise is a "valuable commodity" right now, stressing that the government should remove bureaucratic hurdles so the nation can meet international demand for Ukrainian products and knowledge.

"We need to simplify access to this market," he said. "Our private companies and the military can't just travel to the Middle East and get started up there. Quick decisions by the government are needed. If the whole process drags on for over a year, interest will wane."

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently said on social media that Ukraine had already received 11 requests from Iran's neighboring countries, European states and the US on how to combat Iranian drones. Kyiv has already responded to some of them with "concrete decisions and concrete support."

Zelenskyy explained that Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, together with the armed forces, decides which requests Ukraine can accept without compromising its own defense capabilities. In an interview with The New York Times, Zelenskyy said that Kyiv had already deployed a team of experts and interceptor drones to protect US military bases in Jordan from Iranian combat drones.

What Ukraine can offer its allies in terms of drones and expertise

The Dronarium Academy's Sledyuk points out that training a pilot for drone defense takes about five months. This includes theoretical knowledge and the extensive motor skills training needed, for example, for a pilot to manually guide a fast drone toward a rapidly moving target.

"It's impossible to teach this in one or two weeks, or even a month. Ukraine can provide fully trained specialists and training on existing technology to train pilots en masse on-site. Our expertise has grown steadily during the war with Russia, so our instructors are one step ahead," Sledyuk said.

Marta Bukhtiiarova from the Department of Defense at the Kyiv School of Economics said that while Ukraine's partners have so far welcomed all innovations from the Ukrainian army, they do not know how to use them or what benefits they offer.

"The current situation with Iran could be the first step toward a broader understanding of how Ukraine's combat experience can be integrated into the military approach of other countries," Bukhtiiarova told DW.

Zelenskyy has repeatedly said that Ukraine is ready to share its combat-proven experience and technology. In return, he expects partners to strengthen Ukraine's air defense capabilities, particularly with Patriot missiles and related systems, as well as applying diplomatic pressure on Russia.

Kyiv wants, among other things, to conclude a drone agreement with Washington.

"A year ago, we offered the US a drone deal that includes interceptor drones. Essentially, it's about our experience and our production capacities on a scale that we are not currently utilizing," Zelenskyy told reporters. "We made this offer primarily to the Americans, our partners. The fact that the Middle East is now approaching us is part of this drone deal. That is why the drone deal is absolutely relevant for the US."

US President Donald Trump, however, said in a recent interview with Fox News Radio that the US would not need support for drone defense against Iran.

Is it possible to export Ukrainian drones?

In early February, Zelenskyy announced on his Telegram channel that Ukraine was opening up to arms exports. By 2026, there will be 10 Ukrainian export offices in Europe — in the Baltic states and Northern Europe. However, local manufacturers complain that exporting drones is nearly impossible. The export of military equipment had effectively been halted after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. Authorities are currently negotiating with manufacturers to establish an export model that works for all parties.

"Drone exports ensure stability and the survival of individual companies. During the war, the number of drone manufacturers has multiplied. At the same time, the state's purchases from them has long since peaked," said Buchtiiarowa of the Kyiv School of Economics.

She emphasized that if the state stops buying from them, companies face the threat of halting production. For this reason, she says, the approval of exports is of crucial importance for national defense.

Yevhen Motolyshenko of Athlon Avia, a company that specializes in drones, stressed that exports would enable companies to expand their production. This, in turn, would benefit the Ukrainian government.

"We produce, export, generate profits there and return to Ukraine with new capital and new technologies," he told DW.

However, this requires a stable and clear export policy. According to him, joint production facilities could also be established with international partners.

Such projects, Motolyshenko said, would boost the development of Ukrainian technologies. They would also attract investment and facilitate access to international funding programs.

"This would not only contribute to the development of the Ukrainian defense industry but would also strengthen the security of our allies," he said.

Marta Bukhtiiarova pointed out another important benefit of teaming up: By manufacturing drones and technologies abroad, companies would avoid the risk of Russian missile strikes.

This article originally appeared in Ukrainian.