French car manufacturer Renault is set to establish facilities in Ukraine for the production of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), intended to equip both the Ukrainian and French armed forces, according to French radio network Franceinfo.

Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu on Friday announced a new partnership in which a major French carmaker will collaborate with a French defence SME to set up production lines in Ukraine capable of manufacturing drones.

Contacted by AFP, Renault did not respond to a request for comment.

According to Franceinfo, which did not disclose further details on its sources, the production lines will be located “several tens or hundreds of kilometers from the front line”.

These drones—whose specific model has not been identified—will primarily serve the Ukrainian military. However, the French armed forces will also benefit, enabling continuous tactical and operational training aligned with the realities of the conflict in Ukraine, Lecornu stated on Friday.

Ukraine plans to deploy over 4.5 million drones in 2025, which are reportedly responsible for 70% of the destruction of enemy equipment on the front line.

The French military, which currently possesses several thousand unmanned aerial vehicles, is working to address its growing requirements in this domain.

According to Lecornu, Ukrainians have demonstrated superior innovation in drone technology and, in particular, in developing the operational doctrine surrounding their use. In turn, they will also share their experience regarding the practical application of these systems in warfare.

With information from: AMNA, AFP

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