During a visit by a Belgian delegation to Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky and Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever held a meeting with representatives from Ukrainian and Belgian defense companies. The delegation also toured the production facilities of Ukraine’s defense-industrial complex. It was during this meeting that the drone, used by Ukrainian military forces to shoot down “Shaheds,” was first observed. According to the manufacturers, the drone has already destroyed more than 20 “Shaheds” and around a dozen reconnaissance drones in the past two months. The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is capable of reaching speeds of up to 200 km/h and can operate at altitudes of up to 5 km.
The Minister for Strategic Industries, Herman Smetanin, emphasized that all of this represents cutting-edge weaponry, developed and manufactured in Ukraine: reconnaissance drones, a drone interceptor, a ground robotics platform, a marine drone, and a long-range kamikaze drone.
He stated that the partners needed to see the capabilities of Ukraine’s defense sector. “We are modern, flexible, and able to rapidly adapt to the challenges of the front,” said Herman Smetanin. “Our strength lies in relatively inexpensive but effective solutions that can be quickly scaled if the necessary funding is available.”
During the meeting, the topics of joint weapons production, the development of Ukraine’s defense-industrial complex, and the localization and investment in production within Ukraine were discussed. This approach is expected to contribute to the security of Europe. Along with the Prime Minister of Belgium, representatives from ten Belgian defense companies visited Ukraine, and as a result of the meeting, a Memorandum and a Letter of Intent regarding cooperation between Belgian and Ukrainian defense companies were signed. The documents outline plans to increase joint production and technical support for air defense systems.
Bart De Wever noted the need to help Ukraine develop more self-defense capabilities and prepare Europe for potential aggressive actions from Russia, while also acknowledging the challenges in ramping up production capacity. “It would be strange if Ukraine, which currently has a great need for production capabilities, did not become a key player in the production and rearming of Europe,” said the Prime Minister of Belgium. “This is a very logical collaboration. It’s a mutually beneficial partnership. This is something we must do.”
“We are very proud that our industry has helped protect Ukraine, our civilians, and of course, our army,” said Volodymyr Zelensky. “All these ‘little birds’ are very important to us and very dangerous to the Russians. I believe that new projects between us, between our industries, between our private sector and governments, are crucial, of course, for Ukraine’s survival and for increasing our joint production.”
Source: x
