Russia

The country has already produced 50,000 drones so far this month, according to the country’s strategic industries minister.

A protectionist drone bill made it into the National Defense Authorization Act of 2024, which passed both houses of Congress this week.

The growing list of military aid to help shore up Ukraine’s air defenses comes as Russia vows to respond if NATO air bases are used by Ukrainian F-16s.

The center will serve as a model for training regional partners, including the Ukrainian Air Force, said Kathleen Kavalec, U.S. ambassador to Romania.

The fighter jets arrived at a flight training center in Romania, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed.

Sanctions brought by the U.S. State, Commerce, and Treasury departments target companies producing loitering munitions used by Russia against Ukraine.

The DOD estimates it will take five to nine months to fully train Ukrainian fighter pilots to fly the fighter jets.

Russia’s use of Lancet one-way attack UAVs has been one of the most effective capabilities it has deployed in the last year of the war, according to British military intelligence.

More than 130 fighter, cargo, tanker, and reconnaissance aircraft are participating in the ‘Vigilant Defense 24’ event.

With no end in sight to the war between Russia and Ukraine, the latter hopes to churn out even more drones—and calls upon Western nations to do the same.