Pentagon says US industry still years from matching Ukraine's wartime drone output
XLI•Ukrainian companies required to localize U.S. production
Metz said all six Ukrainian companies invited to next month's "Gauntlet II" test at Fort Carson, Colorado, have entered or are moving toward joint ventures with U.S. manufacturers as a condition of future orders.
Ukrainian company F-Drones has partnered with Ohio-based Ukrainian Defense Drones, which opened a facility near Toledo, while Ukrainian drone maker General Cherry has agreed to a joint venture with New Hampshire's Wilcox Industries, according to the companies.
Metz said the Ukrainian companies competing in Gauntlet II are being required to localize production in the U.S. as a condition of winning future orders, a structure designed to convert Ukraine's battlefield expertise into American manufacturing capacity rather than reliance on imports.
