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UAE Ministry of Defense

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Ukraine turns battlefield drone expertise into diplomatic currency

New Capabilities

Signed 10-year defense pact with Ukraine for counter-drone technology and joint production

Russia began bombing Ukrainian cities with Iranian-made Shahed drones in October 2022. Over three and a half years later, Ukraine has transformed that threat into an exportable edge: low-cost interceptor drones, as cheap as $2,100 each, now handling over 70% of Shahed kills. The Pentagon, NATO allies, and Gulf states sought these systems, culminating in Ukraine's Gulf defense pactsโ€”first with Saudi Arabia on March 27, 2026, followed by 10-year deals with the United Arab Emirates and Qatar on March 28 during President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's tour. Ukraine has deployed over 200 counter-drone specialists to Gulf states, with the Pentagon and others in procurement talks.

Updated Mar 6