Ukrainian Defense Drones (UDD), the American representative for Ukraine's F-Drones, has announced a landmark $18.4 million investment to establish its first U.S. manufacturing and assembly center in Holland, Ohio. This strategic expansion is projected to create at least 300 new jobs and will focus on producing combat-proven unmanned aerial systems. The facility will serve the growing demand from the United States military and its global allies for advanced drone technology.
A Landmark U.S.-Ukraine Defense Collaboration
This venture represents a historic milestone, as F-Drones recently became the first Ukrainian drone manufacturer authorized by its government to export systems to the U.S. military. According to F-Drones CEO Stas Khutor, the logical next step is to transfer this advanced technology for production directly on American soil. This collaboration supports the emerging U.S.–Ukraine Drone Deal, aiming to bolster the security and technological leadership of both nations.
The Pentagon's Drone Dominance Initiative
The decision to establish the Ohio facility was driven by UDD's recent success in the Pentagon's Drone Dominance Program. This $1 billion initiative is designed to rapidly expand the U.S. industrial base for low-cost, scalable drones for combat units. Competing with its battle-tested F10 platform, UDD secured a government prototype contract for the delivery of 2,000 first-person-view drones, underscoring its technological prowess.
Ohio's Strategic Manufacturing Advantage
Ohio was selected after a competitive process, with officials highlighting the state's deep manufacturing roots and skilled workforce. Governor Mike DeWine emphasized that the investment strengthens both the local economy and the nation's defense industrial base. Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur noted that Northwest Ohio's 130,000-strong advanced manufacturing sector makes it an ideal location for scaling production of these critical systems.
Advanced Capabilities and Future Production
The new facility in Lucas County will be a comprehensive center for assembly, manufacturing, testing, and after-sales support for FPV drones and other unmanned systems. The project also includes plans for workforce development, software and hardware integration, and the long-term localization of the supply chain within the U.S. This move will enable UDD to scale up the output of its renowned systems, which include the F7 and F10 drones.
Leveraging Battlefield-Tested Innovation
F-Drones brings a unique advantage to the U.S. market with technology that has been developed, tested, and deployed under real battlefield conditions in Ukraine for over three years. Stas Khutor stated that Ukraine helped invent modern drone warfare and refined its systems under fire into something close to perfection. The company's mission is to share these hard-won capabilities to strengthen not just Ukraine but the entire free world.
The establishment of UDD's Ohio plant is a pivotal development that reinforces the strategic defense partnership between the United States and Ukraine. By onshoring the production of combat-proven drone technology, the project enhances America's industrial self-reliance while providing a significant economic boost to the Northwest Ohio region. This initiative exemplifies a forward-looking approach to national security, integrating allied innovation to build a more resilient and technologically advanced defense ecosystem.