New Ohio plant to make defense drones

FINDLAY — The drone technology that has helped Ukraine battle Russia's invasion is coming to northwest Ohio. U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo, announced that Ukrainian Defense Drones has picked a site near Toledo for its first major US assembly and manufacturing center. It's a part of a Pentagon contract to construct drones for use by U.S. and allied armed forces. "UDD, the US company representing Ukraine's F-Drones, is expected to make an $18.4 million investment for the new production project in the Village of Holland, creating at least 300 new jobs," Kaptur announced in a news release from her office. "UDD is now one of the leaders in the Pentagon's Drone Dominance Program to ensure that American troops can defend themselves with the best technology available," Kaptur said. Gov. Mike DeWine also announced the project. The governor said the Ohio Tax Credit Authority approved an approximately 1.6 percent, nine-year Job Creation Tax Credit for the project. The 300 jobs are expected to be created by Dec. 31, 2029, DeWine said. Drone technology has been a key to Ukraine's efforts to fend off Russia's invasion, and Ukrainian drones have hit targets over much of Russia. "Becoming the first Ukrainian drone manufacturer authorized by the Government of Ukraine to export drone systems to the US military is a historic milestone, and the next step is to share the technology to produce these drones on American soil. We're proud to support the vision behind the emerging US–Ukraine Drone Deal and to help strengthen the security and technological leadership of both our nations," said Stas Khutor, CEO of F-Drones. "Ukraine did more than adapt to drone warfare — it helped invent it," he said. "We were the first in the world to turn drones into a tool of national defense, to refine them under fire into something close to perfection, and to make them the backbone of our ability to hold the line against a far larger aggressor. The lessons learned here are now shaping the future of modern warfare." Kaptur is co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus.