The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine said it is “placing particular emphasis on scaling up the production of anti-drone ammunition”.
The ammunition is being used to take down enemy FPV or Mavic-class drones with standard-issue firearms, enabling each service member with a means to counter a drone attack without requiring an additional system.
The Ministry of Defence said this capability is “as vital as countering [drones] with air defence systems or electronic warfare technology”.
Several types of such rounds from different manufacturers have already been authorised for use by the ministry. Among them are the upgraded Horoshok rounds, available in two standard calibres: 5.56×45 mm and 5.45×39 mm. The Ministry of Defence said on December 12 that the manufacturer plans to increase production to 400,000 rounds per month.
“Such rounds can engage enemy drones at distances of up to 50 and 60 metres, respectively.” The Ministry of Defence explained. “The specialised projectile enhances the probability of a successful hit, and crucially, the rounds can be loaded into the standard magazine of a service rifle, enabling immediate engagement of enemy drones.”
On December 11, more than 300 representatives of Ukrainian manufacturers of unmanned systems and electronic warfare equipment took part in a market consultation. Ukraine’s Defence Procurement Agency outlined plans and changes for 2026, including procedures for joining the DOT-Chain Defence marketplace and working within the system, contract specifics and planned amendments, and the procedure for state quality assurance.
The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine said on December 15 that it will allocate UAH 12 billion (approx EUR 242 million) in Q1 2026 for ordering drones and other equipment through the DOT-Chain Defence marketplace. To date, the frontline has already received unmanned systems and electronic warfare equipment worth UAH 7.687 billion, through the marketplace, totaling 175.4 thousand units. Over 100 manufacturers have been integrated into the system.
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Ministry of Defence of Ukraine
Image: Ministry of Defence of Ukraine
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