US secretly invests $1.5B in Ukraine's drone industry – NYT

The United States secretly invested $1.5 billion into Ukraine's drone production in September 2024, as revealed on January 16 when the Biden administration declassified the latest set of documents on military aid to Ukraine, according to The New York Times.

The Pentagon directed an additional $800 million in the fall to procure components and finance Ukrainian manufacturers. Moreover, U.S. intelligence officials assisted in building Ukraine's drone program. CIA Director William J. Burns noted that the aid included intelligence sharing and support for systems proven effective on the battlefield.

Thanks to U.S. support, Ukraine launched domestic production of next-generation drones and later expanded its capabilities, American officials reported.

Jake Sullivan, the U.S. National Security Advisor, stated that this assistance had a "real strategic impact" on the course of the war.

Ukrainian drones have demonstrated remarkable effectiveness, with maritime drones eliminating a quarter of Russia's Black Sea Fleet and drones on the front lines slowing Russian offensives in eastern Ukraine.

This experience has provided "invaluable lessons" that the U.S. has begun integrating into its own defense industry," Sullivan said.