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28-07-2025, 12:34 AM
The Russia-Ukraine war is driving demand for 3D printed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
On the eastern front, both sides deploy low-cost, remotely controlled first-person view (FPV) drones to carry out precision strikes, conduct aerial surveillance, and deliver supplies.
Meanwhile, Moscow has intensified long-range attacks, sending swarms of propeller-powered, fixed-wing UAVs deep into Ukraine. Its Iranian-designed Shahed-136 drones, known as Geran-2 in Russia, are increasingly being used against targets hundreds of miles from the front lines.
Russia reportedly manufactured more than 6,000 Shahed-style drones last year. In June 2025, over 5,000 Shahed-type drones were deployed against Ukraine. On July 8, Russia launched a barrage of over 700 drones, a record high for a single day.
In response, Ukraine is accelerating the production of interceptor drones. Operators use these devices to hunt and destroy Shahed-style loitering munitions before they can strike. In a recent interview with Babel, Arsen Zhumadilov, Director of Ukraine’s Defense Procurement Agency, revealed that Kyiv is targeting “mass production,” having contracted “tens of thousands” of anti-Shahed drones.
Additive manufacturing is playing a crucial role in meeting rising demand. Ukrainian drone manufacturer Wild Hornets, for example, operates an expanding 3D print farm to produce its Sting interceptor drones.
The Ukrainian non-profit has shared images and videos on social media showing rows of Elegoo and Bambu Lab FDM 3D printers fabricating plastic drone components. These help to minimize costs, accelerate design cycles, and decentralize production.
Importantly, Wild Hornets offers a cost-effective alternative to U.S.-supplied Patriot Missiles, which cost about $3.3 million each. In contrast, Ukrainian-made interceptors reportedly cost between $1,000 and $5,000 to produce, while Russia’s Shahed drones are estimated at $35,000 apiece.
On the eastern front, both sides deploy low-cost, remotely controlled first-person view (FPV) drones to carry out precision strikes, conduct aerial surveillance, and deliver supplies.
Meanwhile, Moscow has intensified long-range attacks, sending swarms of propeller-powered, fixed-wing UAVs deep into Ukraine. Its Iranian-designed Shahed-136 drones, known as Geran-2 in Russia, are increasingly being used against targets hundreds of miles from the front lines.
Russia reportedly manufactured more than 6,000 Shahed-style drones last year. In June 2025, over 5,000 Shahed-type drones were deployed against Ukraine. On July 8, Russia launched a barrage of over 700 drones, a record high for a single day.
In response, Ukraine is accelerating the production of interceptor drones. Operators use these devices to hunt and destroy Shahed-style loitering munitions before they can strike. In a recent interview with Babel, Arsen Zhumadilov, Director of Ukraine’s Defense Procurement Agency, revealed that Kyiv is targeting “mass production,” having contracted “tens of thousands” of anti-Shahed drones.
Additive manufacturing is playing a crucial role in meeting rising demand. Ukrainian drone manufacturer Wild Hornets, for example, operates an expanding 3D print farm to produce its Sting interceptor drones.
The Ukrainian non-profit has shared images and videos on social media showing rows of Elegoo and Bambu Lab FDM 3D printers fabricating plastic drone components. These help to minimize costs, accelerate design cycles, and decentralize production.
Importantly, Wild Hornets offers a cost-effective alternative to U.S.-supplied Patriot Missiles, which cost about $3.3 million each. In contrast, Ukrainian-made interceptors reportedly cost between $1,000 and $5,000 to produce, while Russia’s Shahed drones are estimated at $35,000 apiece.
