The profound transformations of war, accelerated after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, redraw not only the fronts, but also the way states build their defense industries. In this new landscape, Kiev is emerging as a key actor, claims former CIA director, retired general David Petraeus.
David Petraeus, former head of the CIA/PHOTO: Profimedia
In an interview with “World at Stake,” Petraeus described Ukraine as a veritable “arsenal of democracy,” echoing a phrase established during World War II to characterize the United States' role in supporting allies.
“In the future, Ukraine will probably have the most important defense industrial base in the free world”he declared, emphasizing the fast pace of innovation. According to him, Ukrainian industry produces state-of-the-art unmanned systems – not only aerial, but also ground and naval.
A key element is rapid integration between hardware and software. Software updates are done in less than a week, while hardware changes occur every few weeks – a pace hard to match in other states.
Progress is also visible on the front: Ukraine has developed long-range drones capable of evading air defense systems and hitting essential energy infrastructures inside Russia. These attacks have significantly affected Moscow's ability to export oil, in a global context marked by rising prices.
A true industrial ecosystem
Petraeus talks about a real industrial ecosystem: “Ukraine produces some of the most impressive unmanned systems in the world. And after the end of the conflict, with investments that will continue to come, this position will strengthen.”
Kiev's influence already goes beyond the borders of Europe. Ukraine is supporting Persian Gulf states in defending against Iranian drones, which have proven capable of penetrating even US-made defense systems.
President Volodymyr Zelensky recently stated that the Ukrainian military has shot down Shahed drones in several countries in the Middle East. In return, Ukraine receives weapons, fuel and financial support.
Another major advantage is the low cost and mass production capability. Ukraine produces thousands of drones every day, and they are responsible for most of the losses on the battlefield.
The situation contrasts sharply with the model adopted by the United States, which is based on highly sophisticated weaponry, but expensive and difficult to produce on a large scale. In addition, the US and its allies are facing dwindling stocks of advanced munitions.
The imbalance between the cheap drones launched by Iran and the expensive interceptors used to neutralize them raises questions among defense experts.
At a recent forum, security expert Dmitri Alperovitch warned that NATO currently lacks the industrial capacity and supply chains needed for a protracted conflict.
Paradoxically, although Russia's economy is significantly smaller than NATO's combined, Moscow produces more conventional weaponry in certain categories, from artillery to drones and some types of missiles.
“It's a choice,” Alperovitch pointed out. “Not because we couldn't produce more.”
