The Ukrainian Pavilion at Commercial UAV Expo 2025: three days of innovation, partnerships, and global leadership
- bvelykyi
- 19 minutes ago
- 7 min read
The Ukrainian Pavilion at Commercial UAV Expo 2025, presented from September 2–4 in Las Vegas, became one of the central events of the world’s leading unmanned technology exhibition, where the main trends of the global drone industry are shaped. Under the leadership and organization of DroneUA and Futurology, for the second consecutive year, the pavilion showcased the mature architecture of the Ukrainian UAV ecosystem to the international audience — from platform and component production to software, service models, and counter-drone technologies. Thus, Ukraine emerges not only as a participant in the global dialogue but also as a creator of new benchmarks.
“Participation in Commercial UAV Expo 2025 is not just an opportunity to present Ukrainian technologies, but also to once again confirm that we are shaping the new architecture of the global drone industry. The Ukrainian Pavilion, which brought together talented domestic engineers and was presented among global leaders, reflects the sustainability of the processes happening within Ukraine’s drone industry. Today, our country is demonstrating development rates that are becoming a benchmark for other markets, and innovations created in dynamic conditions are setting the standards by which the global industry will operate tomorrow. All of this is part of our global mission, which we are carrying out in the international arena,” — emphasized Valerii Iakovenko, co-founder and managing partner of DroneUA, Futurology.
With the support of the Consulate General of Ukraine in San Francisco, Diia.City United, the Lviv City Council, and IRON Cluster, under the aegis of the Fleet of Millions initiative, the Ukrainian Pavilion emerged as an institutionally established platform where diplomacy, government programs, municipal institutions, and industry clusters work in harmony, strengthening each other. As a result, the entry into global markets is facilitated through a holistic ecosystem capable of ensuring the sustainable presence of Ukrainian innovations in the U.S. and their integration into international manufacturing processes.
“This was a strategically important effort that we have been preparing for an entire year. A special achievement for us was the collaboration with the Lviv City Council and IRON Cluster, which implements an ecosystem approach to helping Ukrainian companies enter international markets. This is a collective contribution, where professional associations, business, and institutions work together to create conditions for investment in the Ukrainian economy and technologies. Such an approach creates new opportunities for representing domestic manufacturers and strengthening partnerships on a global scale,” — said Oleksandra Afanasieva, strategic advisor at DroneUA, Futurology.
Over the course of three days, the Ukrainian delegation brought together companies that showcased the full cycle of solutions for the UAV industry. Among them, the ambassadors of Ukrainian technologies in Las Vegas were:
DroneUA | Futurology — international integrators of unmanned aerial systems, robotics, AI, and clean technologies, focused on deploying innovative solutions across agriculture, energy, and emergency response sectors globally.
Bavovna — dual-use technology company developing AI-based solutions for alternative and hybrid navigation in GNSS-denied or jammed environments.
AeroDrone — developer and manufacturer of UAS designed for heavy cargo transport, long-range flights, and autonomous operations in logistics, monitoring, precision agriculture, rescue missions, and defense.
BlueBird — developer and manufacturer of advanced technologies and innovations in unmanned systems, EW systems, counter-UAS solutions, signal amplifiers, ground relay stations, and other technical devices.
BOXO — manufacturer of multifunctional cases addressing specific needs for the safe storage and transportation of various equipment.
FreeUAV — developer of unmanned solutions for search and rescue operations, geological exploration, infrastructure monitoring, and environmental surveillance.
Sine Engineering — developer of advanced communication modules and navigation solutions that enable drones to operate in GPS-denied and EW-affected environments, as well as provide capabilities for controlling drone swarms.
BP United Inc. — developer and supplier of innovative solutions, including aerial and maritime unmanned systems, security systems, defense technologies, and international logistics, with a focus on supporting humanitarian and security operations. in extreme conditions.
Farsight Vision — developer of software and hardware for creating digital twins and real-time analytics in mission planning, reconnaissance, infrastructure monitoring, and tactical decision support.
Sky Tech Drones LLC — manufacturer and service provider of UAVs, conducting technical testing, scientific research, and experimental development in aviation and related technologies.
Today, Ukraine manufactures over 5 million drones annually, with more than 700 companies in the sector, united in vertically integrated supply chains. This not only demonstrates the strength of production but also the strategic depth: from creating engines, controllers, optics, and antennas to developing software, service models, and counter-drone technologies. The unique engineering experience gained in dynamic conditions has become the foundation for forming one of the centers of the global drone innovation market, where technologies quickly transition into practical applications, and the speed of integration and flexibility of engineering teams set new standards for the development of the global industry.
The centerpiece of the event was the pane ldiscussion "The $15 Billion-DollarSky – HowAgri-Drones are Powering America’s Next Tech Boom."Participants presented the economic rationale behind the rapid growth of this 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 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 setting the foundation for the next stage of precision farming.
The discussion took place in the “Past — Present — Future” format, which allowed for tracing the evolution of drone use in agriculture and outlining their role in the near future. Experts from the industry shared their insights and fresh perspectives:
Looking back to the origins, participants outlined the first attempts to integrate drones into agriculture. Until recently, for traditional agricultural machinery manufacturing, drones were more of an experimental tool than an equal component of agricultural production.
“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
Pioneering engineers, including those from the AeroDrone team, chose fixed-wing platforms, allowing them to cover large areas, operate at greater distances, and reduce operational costs. At the same time, John Deere viewed these new developments as a factor that could influence the balance of the ground equipment market, not only addressing 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
The third day of Commercial UAV Expo 2025 marked the culmination of the event, where Ukrainian experience reflected a leadership position on the global map of unmanned technologies. The panel discussion “Lessons from Ukraine Define the Future of Commercial Drone and Counter-Drone Innovations” became the most attended session of the event’s content program, summarizing the key challenges and opportunities currently facing the industry.
Discussing the integration of unmanned solutions in the security, humanitarian, and civilian sectors, representatives from government institutions and business presented a variety of perspectives, where practical experience complemented the strategic vision for the further development of drone technologies. Among the participants in the discussion were:
Dmytro Kushneruk, Consul General of Ukraine in San Francisco;
Dmytro Shymkiv, Investor, AeroDrone;
Fevzi Ametov, Deputy Head of the Division of organization and application of UAVs. Aviation Security Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs;
Maksym Prasolov, CGO of Bavovna.
Over the past 10 years, Ukraine's drone ecosystem has become one of the most technologically advanced in the world. Experts focused on critical aspects such as production localization, the development of innovative service models, digital analytics, and the creation of effective counter-drone and security systems. Special attention was given to the need for new educational programs for operators and pilots to ensure further growth and technological adaptation of the industry on a global scale.
“The speed of approvals and access in Ukraine has skyrocketed. Certification takes weeks, access to airfields for testing — just days. I know several American and UK companies that came to Ukraine because it’s simply faster here. Ukraine’s success is in accessibility. Drones need to fly. They can’t be tested on the ground — they need to be in the air.” — shared Dmytro Shymkiv.
The discussion raised the important topic of the impact of unmanned technologies on the development of international partnerships. Participants emphasized how the integration of Ukrainian technologies into global supply chains and international projects strengthens the country’s position in the global market.
"Ukraine has vast experience and significant results in the drone industry. We are often called the “drone nation”. Ukraine proposed to the US a so-called 'Drone deal”. The U.S. may invest in Ukrainian drone production and purchase thousands, or even millions of tested Ukrainian drones in real-world conditions. In return, Ukraine may gain access to advanced American technology and equipment. This agreement may be a true exchange of strengths. Also, we see a great interest from the American first responders in heavy drones for the rescue operations under severe conditions: smoke, high winds, high temperatures, etc. Ukrainian drones can be adapted to other needs. They have a huge potential in this market as soon as the export opportunity opens”, said the Consul General of Ukraine in San Francisco, Dmytro Kushneruk
Commercial UAV Expo 2025 confirmed Ukraine’s status as a global leader in unmanned technologies. Presented this year in an even larger format, the consolidated Ukrainian Pavilion became not only a focal point for investors, integrators, and international partners but also a key platform for establishing new foundations of global cooperation. The event marked an important step in promoting Ukrainian innovations on the world stage, showcasing the high technological maturity and strategic flexibility of drone solutions that are already shaping the future of the global industry.
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