The $15 Billion Sky: The Ukrainian Pavilion sets the key highlights of Day Two at Commercial UAV Expo 2025
- bvelykyi
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Day Two of Commercial UAV Expo 2025 confirmed that drone technologies are becoming a key driver of transformation in the agricultural sector. Here, the spotlight was on solutions capable of reshaping production economics, making agriculture more technological, resilient, and independent of the limitations of traditional machinery. The Ukrainian Pavilion became a platform where international experts, developers, and investors witnessed how innovations are turning into practical tools for shaping the future of agribusiness.
The centerpiece of the event was the panel discussion “The $15 Billion-Dollar Sky – How Agri-Drones are Powering America’s Next Tech Boom.” Participants presented the economic rationale behind the rapid growth of the sector: more than 350 million acres of farmland in the U.S., 2–3 treatments per season, and an average cost of about $12 per acre together create a market potential of at least $15 billion. Today, drones are already proving their effectiveness as a universal method for applying fertilizers and pesticides, laying the groundwork for a large-scale transformation of the agricultural sector and establishing the foundation for a new stage of precision farming.
The discussion was held in the format “Past — Present — Future,” which made it possible to trace the evolution of drone use in agriculture and outline their role in the near future. The panel brought together experts with extensive experience in the sector’s development:
Looking back to the origins, participants outlined the first attempts to integrate drones into agriculture. Until recently, for traditional agricultural machinery manufacturing, drones remained more of an experimental tool than an equal component of agricultural production. However, for pioneering engineers — particularly the AeroDrone team — the choice in favor of fixed-wing platforms was a deliberate decision: it enabled coverage of large areas, long-distance operations, and reduced operating costs. At the same time, John Deere viewed new developments as a factor that could influence the balance of the ground machinery market, not only responding to challenges but also opening new opportunities for cooperation.
“Drones won’t just compete — they complement. Multirotors are effective in corners, hard-to-reach areas, and on hillsides; ground machines cover the main acres; drones fill the gaps and enhance safety where manned aircraft face the greatest risks.” — shared Ashley Hanson, John Deere Aviation.
“What a multirotor completes in a day, our fixed-wing drone does in an hour — that’s a multiple increase in productivity. With speeds exceeding 130 km/h and a 20-meter spray swath, this is how operations are transformed when time is the critical factor.” — said Iurii Pederii, AeroDrone
In a short time, Ukraine has shown that unmanned systems can operate at an industrial scale, providing a holistic approach to transforming agricultural production. Building on unique experience, an environment has been created that combines field treatment service models, logistical innovations, specialist training, and digital solutions for analytics and management. This architecture establishes a new level of autonomy and efficiency that today serves as a benchmark for global markets and lays the foundation for international technology standards.
During the discussion, the main focus was on the key factors shaping the future of the U.S. agri-drone market. The conversation addressed the industry’s structure and growth rates, as well as the economics of new service models — from operational costs to the creation of additional revenue streams. Attention was also given to the role of stakeholders who set standards and define the rules of the game. A particular emphasis was placed on the sectors that will benefit most from the integration of unmanned technologies, as they are expected to become the first drivers of the market on its path toward a multibillion-dollar scale.
“In Ukraine, there was practically no regulation of agricultural drones — this vacuum allowed the market to grow very quickly. Within a year or two, hundreds of companies began providing crop-spraying services. Ukrainian farmers are eager for new technologies: they want to try everything new that appears on the market. And drones are not just about novelty — they are about efficiency. Every field test proved their effectiveness, and this accelerated the adoption of innovations at an extraordinary pace.” — emphasized Fevzi Ametov
“Most of our early work with drones was internal — monitoring crop health with multispectral, thermal, and high-resolution RGB sensors; tracking how each seed was planted and grew to the final harvest; even assigning GPS coordinates to every single plant to measure yield at the individual level. We also used drones for facility maintenance — ensuring production lines kept running without interruption.” — said Ashley Hanson, John Deere Aviation
Day Two of Commercial UAV Expo 2025 confirmed that Ukrainian innovations are not only part of the global dialogue but also its driving force. The panel discussion outlined the economic potential of the U.S. market, but most importantly, it demonstrated the industry’s readiness for systemic change, with Ukrainian practices taking the lead. Ukraine showed that the combination of practical experience, engineering expertise, and new business models creates real scenarios for transforming the agricultural sector.
Ahead lies the final day of Commercial UAV Expo 2025, which will once again draw the audience’s attention to Ukrainian case studies. In this context, on September 4, the main stage of Caesars Forum will host the panel discussion “Lessons from Ukraine Define the Future of Commercial Drone and Counter-Drone Innovations.” The discussion will present solutions that emerged in the Ukrainian market under the pressure of challenges and are now becoming benchmarks for the global industry.
The Ukrainian Pavilion’s booth №709 is a platform that brings together experts, investors, and developers around practical solutions — from service models to digital analytics — that are already shaping new benchmarks for the UAV industry’s development.
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