During the critical phase of the Russia-Ukraine war, manufacturers of professional micro-jet engines in various parts of Europe are facing supply shortages. This supply crisis may hinder Ukraine’s rapid development of the “long-range strike drone” program but has also led to more companies joining the production and research ranks.
Micro-turbojet drones are faster and much cheaper to produce than traditional propeller-driven drones. These drones enable Ukraine to strike deep into territories controlled by Russia and compete with more advanced systems like Russian unmanned aerial vehicles.
However, over a dozen weapons experts, senior executives, and government officials disclosed to Reuters that the shortage of micro-engines has raised concerns in the external sector about the supply crisis for long-range strike drones.
An unnamed Ukrainian defense industry source pointed out that the shortage of micro-engines “may be a primary factor limiting the production quantity of missile drones” and described it as “a major challenge for our missile program.”
Maria Popova, the operational director of Ukraine’s largest private arms manufacturer association, the Defense Industry Council, also agreed with this view. She stated that not only are the turbojet engines needed for drones facing bottlenecks, but the materials required to manufacture the engines are also in short supply. “Global supply remains tight, and the situation domestically in Ukraine is even more severe,” she added.
Oleksandr Kamyshin, a weapon expert and defense industry advisor to Ukrainian President Zelensky, declined to comment on whether the shortage has affected the war situation.
Aside from long-range strike drones, micro-jet engines also power loitering munitions (suicide drones) and missile interceptors. These engines can generate enough thrust to deliver explosives to distant locations. With a diameter usually less than 30 cm, they are primarily made from lightweight materials like titanium alloys and often use 3D printed components.
Before the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, few European manufacturers had the capability to mass-produce these micro-jet engines, leading to significant challenges in expanding production capacity today.
Based in the Czech Republic, the PBS Group is one of the few mature manufacturers before the war. With the surge in demand from Ukraine since 2023, the company has increased its production fivefold and aims to reach eightfold by the end of this year.
PBS plans to double the production capacity of its Czech factory in the next two years, with approximately 25% of the deliveries going to Ukraine. Stanislav Lisner, PBS’s global business director, told Reuters, “Currently, our production capacity is nearing its limit, but we are investing heavily to expand production.”
Although Lisner did not disclose specific figures, PBS has formed a joint venture with Ukraine’s Ivchenko-Progress to develop new engines.
PBS’s turbojet engines are used in long-range strike drones like “Palianytsia,” which can reach speeds of 900 km/h. Its main competitor is the Russian jet-powered Altius-5 drone, which can fly at speeds of up to 600 km/h, carrying around 90 kg of explosives, with a flight range of nearly 1,000 km.
To reduce reliance on suppliers, Ukrainian engineers are currently testing a low-cost pulse-jet engine called the Hrim-17, mainly for intercepting drones. Ragnar Sass, a defense investor from Estonia, commented that “compared to Ukraine’s huge demand, this is just a drop in the ocean.”
Adam Vysocky, the head of Czech turbojet engine manufacturer ZofiTech, stated, “We see a growing demand from Ukraine for these weapons.” The company produces about 200 engines per month, nearly all of which are delivered to Ukraine, and expects demand to “reach thousands in the coming months.”
In addition, German drone manufacturer Quantum Systems has introduced a new jet-powered drone developed in collaboration with Airbus. The Czech Defense Group CSG, which went public in January with an estimated value of around $35 billion, also entered the field after acquiring the Serbian manufacturer Must Solutions in November last year.
Pavel Cechal, the head of CSG’s jet engine division, stated that the company aims to produce around 1,000 turbojet engines in 2026, with approximately 35% expected to supply to Ukraine. “The market is developing rapidly and fervently at the moment, as all defense companies see the enormous potential in this field,” he added.
(This article references reporting from Reuters)