Battle-Tested Ukrainian Drone Tech Comes to the US: Ohio Manufacturing Hub to Create Over 300 Jobs

Ukrainian drone manufacturer Ukrainian Defense Drones (UDD) has announced plans to establish its first large-scale US assembly and manufacturing center in Holland, a village in northwest Ohio, bringing at least 300 new jobs and millions of dollars in investment to Lucas County.

The announcement was made jointly by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, state economic development agency JobsOhio, and UDD—marking the formal entry of combat-proven Ukrainian drone technology into the US defense industrial base. The new Lucas County facility will focus on assembling first-person view (FPV) drones and supporting unmanned systems production, training, testing, and dual-use commercial applications for US and allied customers.

"There is no better place for our allies to build the technology that strengthens national defense than Ohio," Governor DeWine said. "UDD's decision to invest here means 300 new jobs for the people of Lucas County. This investment not only strengthens our economy—it reinforces the manufacturing base that national security depends on."

Pentagon Contract Opens the Door to the US Market

The expansion was catalyzed by UDD's US legal entity—representing Ukrainian company F-Drones—securing a Pentagon prototype contract to deliver 2,000 FPV drones under the US Department of Defense's Drone Dominance Program. The $1 billion program aims to accelerate domestic drone manufacturing and procure more than 200,000 low-cost drones by 2027.

According to the announcement, operations at the Holland facility will encompass high-volume manufacturing, workforce development, supply chain localization, hardware and software integration, customer demonstrations, and long-term US expansion planning.

A Historic Milestone for Both Nations

F-Drones CEO Stas Khutor described the investment as a historic milestone for both Ukraine and the United States.

"Becoming the first Ukrainian drone manufacturer authorized by the Ukrainian government to export drone systems to the US military is historic in itself. The next step is bringing that technology to American soil," Khutor said. "We are proud to support the vision of US-Ukraine drone cooperation and are committed to jointly strengthening the security and technological leadership of both nations."

Khutor emphasized that the hands-on drone development experience accumulated during Russia's invasion of Ukraine gives the company a unique advantage in meeting rapidly growing global demand.

"Ukraine didn't just adapt to drone warfare—it helped invent it," he said. "At F-Drones, we believe these hard-won capabilities should strengthen not only Ukraine, but the entire free world. Our mission is simple: to make the free world unbreakable."

Ohio Cements Its Status as an Aerospace and Defense Manufacturing Hub

Officials say the investment further solidifies Ohio's position as an emerging center for aerospace and defense manufacturing. State officials noted that existing defense assets, manufacturing capacity, and a deep talent pipeline were key factors in attracting UDD to the state.

"Ohio gives defense innovators everything they need to move from innovation to scaled production—an outstanding talent base, a deep manufacturing supply chain, and the execution capacity to rapidly deliver what America and its allies need," said JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef. "Together with the Regional Growth Partnership, we welcome UDD's decision to localize production in Ohio."

The project is also expected to generate commercial opportunities for regional suppliers across machining, electronics, manufacturing, plastics, logistics, testing, and workforce development sectors. As UDD progressively localizes its US supply chain, officials stated that the long-term goal is to establish northwest Ohio as a premier manufacturing hub for drones and unmanned systems serving US and allied defense needs.

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