Fedorov offers U.S. help building a “drone army” in exchange for Patriot Interceptors

Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has offered assistance to the United States in constructing a "drone army" in exchange for Patriot Interceptors, according to an interview with the Financial Times. Fedorov expressed his willingness to help America build the drone army, specifically in exchange for Patriot interceptors to aid Ukraine through the ongoing winter. "I am ready to make this exchange," he stated.

Fedorov plans to establish an investment fund dedicated to defense technologies and is actively seeking support for this initiative. The fund, which diverges from the conventional venture-capital model, would have the capability to create companies and invest in Ukrainian startups. Western capital would be utilized to develop technologies crucial for Ukraine's resilience against Russia's invasion.

Fedorov highlighted three primary areas of focus for the fund: battlefield robotics to minimize dependence on manpower and troop numbers, low-cost, high-speed interceptor drones to counter Russia's emerging jet-powered attack drones, and low-cost missiles incorporating artificial intelligence.

According to Fedorov, high-speed interceptor drones capable of neutralizing Russian jet-powered drones have already been tested in Ukraine and could be mass-produced with adequate support. Ukrainian Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara previously reported that Ukraine has developed four types of interceptors specifically designed to take down enemy jet-powered Shahed drones, with the current priority being the expansion of their production.