Oleksii Hrebin, CEO of Motor-G, an electric motor manufacturing company

Ukrainian unmanned systems and the evolving tactics behind their deployment became one of the central topics of discussion at the international defense exhibition “SAHA 2026.” At the joint stand of the Ukrainian Council of Gunsmiths, visitors saw not only finished combat-ready solutions, but also Ukrainian manufacturers producing critical drone components, including electric motors. The growing localization of drone component production in Ukraine reflects more than an expansion of manufacturing capacity and the urgent need to supply the frontline with essential parts. It also points to the gradual emergence of a full-fledged Ukrainian defense industrial ecosystem capable of competing on the global market.

In an interview with Ukrinform, Motor-G CEO Oleksii Hrebin discussed the rapid evolution of the UAV sector, competition with Chinese manufacturers, the strategic importance of localizing drone component production in Ukraine, the transformation of the global drone market, and the export prospects for Ukraine’s defense industry.

AT SAHA, WE ARE SHOWCASING NOT ONLY MOTORS, BUT UKRAINE’S ENTIRE DEFENSE ECOSYSTEM

Ukrinform: Oleksii, your company is participating in the international defense exhibition SAHA 2026 in Istanbul. What is the main objective?

Oleksii Hrebin: Our company manufactures motors for UAVs. But here, we are demonstrating far more than just motors. We want to show that Ukraine’s defense industry is not limited to finished products — it is an entire ecosystem. That includes both the end product and the components that make it possible. That is why, at this exhibition, we are presenting not only drones themselves, but also the full range of components used to build them. Our colleagues producing batteries and other parts are represented here as well.

Our primary goal is to demonstrate the capabilities of Ukraine’s defense-industrial ecosystem. And, of course, just as Ukrainian drone manufacturers are exploring demand abroad, we are entering international markets alongside them to understand whether global customers are interested in purchasing Ukrainian electric motors instead of Chinese ones.

UKRAINIAN ELECTRIC MOTORS ARE DESIGNED FOR THE HARSH CONDITIONS OF THE FRONTLINE

UI: Why would the world be interested in buying Ukrainian electric motors instead of Chinese alternatives?

OH: Most electric motors from China are designed for the hobby market, whereas we develop our products specifically for battlefield conditions from the outset. On our social media pages, you can see how we test the motors: they operate in water, underwater, in mud mixed with sand, in dust, and in freezing temperatures. In other words, they are engineered from the very beginning to withstand severe weather and extremely demanding operating conditions.

We even have a video where we expose a motor to direct flame with a blowtorch, and it continues to function. So our motors can endure direct fire exposure for a certain period of time. That level of reliability is exactly what is required on the battlefield, and it is the key advantage of our products.

UI: Around the world, we are seeing a shift toward electric transport and more environmentally friendly electric motors. Is there a similar trend in the military sphere?

OH: Partly, yes, but I would not connect it directly to that trend. The real question is why electric drones became dominant in the first place. The answer is simple: these are small drones, and an internal combustion engine of that size would be highly inefficient and prohibitively expensive.

So in the military sphere, this is primarily about creating a compact, low-cost solution that can be easily scaled. It is not exactly the same trend as the transition to green energy or fuel efficiency. Here, the emphasis is on practicality and operational convenience.

And it is this war that drove the mass adoption of small unmanned systems. Drones existed before, of course, but they were mostly large strategic platforms such as the Bayraktar TB2. Now, however, small systems have emerged, and they predominantly run on electric power.

ON THE GLOBAL MARKET, UKRAINIAN ELECTRIC MOTORS ARE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE IN TERMS OF PRICE

UI: What kind of feedback are you receiving from drone manufacturers and the military?

OH: Most of the feedback comes not directly from the military, because we primarily work through drone manufacturers. From them, we receive very positive assessments both of the quality of our products and of our responsiveness. One of our key advantages is that we manufacture the motors locally. That allows us to quickly introduce modifications, customize solutions, and fine-tune specifications for a particular client.

For example, one of the most common compliments we receive is that we were able to develop a custom-designed motor in an exceptionally short timeframe — something that under other circumstances would have taken months to source. Due to our current workload, we can no longer deliver such solutions “by the day after tomorrow,” but it still takes only one or two weeks. Most importantly, we can maintain rapid communication between our R&D team and the client’s engineers, which means solutions are found very quickly. This dramatically accelerates adaptation and development for frontline requirements.

One particularly interesting discovery for us was that while in Ukraine our primary competitors are Chinese electric motors — and competing with China on price is extremely difficult — on international markets our pricing turned out to be fully competitive. In Europe, when customers see our prices, they often say: “This is actually cheaper than China.” That is because Europe does not maintain the same production volumes or have the pricing dynamics that exist in Ukraine today.

At the same time, our main focus remains the Ukrainian market, while the European and Turkish markets are still emerging for us. We want to establish our presence there and make our brand known. But the scale of those markets is still nowhere near what we currently see in Ukraine.

UI: Are you prepared to export?

OH: Yes, absolutely. If the opportunity arises and we reach agreements with potential partners, we are fully prepared to export. This market is not yet fully mature, but given global developments, that could change very quickly.

The Middle East, for example, will definitely need drones. But the key question is who exactly will manufacture them. We are not targeting end users directly — we work alongside drone manufacturers. In many ways, we follow their expansion into foreign markets. If Ukrainian drones are purchased in the Middle East, then our motors will most likely be there as well. But if drones are manufactured, in Turkey, for example, then we would be interested in supplying motors to Turkish producers.

THE FUTURE BELONGS TO AUTONOMOUS DRONE SWARMS

UI: How do you see the future development of the drone market? Turkey, for example, is placing major emphasis on drone swarms. The idea is that future missions will be carried out by swarms of drones communicating with one another through artificial intelligence. In fact, eventually even the operator assigning the mission may no longer be necessary.

OH: Everything is moving precisely in that direction. This technology will continue to scale and proliferate. If we speak specifically about the evolution of electric drones, what we are seeing now is increasing standardization based on operational requirements.

Where a drone is deployed directly on the frontline, it is usually small because it does not need to fly long distances. Everything depends on the mission range. Assault operations also typically rely on smaller drones.

At the same time, medium-sized drones are becoming increasingly important. The strike zone has expanded significantly, and in order to reach a target, drones often need to fly 30–40 kilometers. A small drone simply cannot cover that distance. So there is no straightforward trend toward smaller platforms. Instead, we are seeing growing segmentation — specific drone size classes optimized for specific mission profiles.

UI: Do you manufacture different motors for drones of different sizes?

OH: Yes. At present, we cover the most widely used motor categories in Ukraine. Right now, there are around nine companies in Ukraine producing motors. We all communicate with one another and try to support each other.

DRONE MANUFACTURERS WANT TO BUY UKRAINIAN-MADE COMPONENTS

UI: To what extent are Ukrainian drones truly a locally produced product?

OH: There is currently a great deal of discussion about localizing drone component manufacturing because everyone understands the risks associated with dependency. In the defense sector, this is critically important. Dependence on China must be reduced, because many critical components still rely on Chinese supply chains.

And this is a point that needs to be emphasized not only in Ukraine, but also across Europe, the United States, Turkey, and NATO countries in general: supply chains independent of China need to be developed. Today, drone manufacturers remain heavily dependent on Chinese-made components.

At the same time, there are already companies in Ukraine that are fully committed to localization and have achieved 90–100% Ukrainian-made components. Ukraine now even produces its own thermal imaging cameras. The remaining challenge is scaling up production of such fully localized drones. But overall, the entire industry is moving toward this end, and we can clearly see that trend. Very often, Ukrainian drone manufacturers specifically prefer to purchase Ukrainian-made components.

LOCALIZED PRODUCTION MULTIPLIES EVERY HRYVNIA SPENT

UI: I can give the example of Turkey. Twenty to twenty-five years ago, only about 20% of its defense industry production was domestic, while 80% was imported. Then Turkey adopted a strategy focused on developing its own defense industry and made major progress. Of course, it has been a long process of testing and development, but today Turkey has established itself as a major producer. Should Ukraine try to replicate Turkey’s experience?

OH: I would say absolutely yes. Localization of production matters for two reasons. First, it is a matter of security. Second, it is a matter of economics. Every hryvnia spent within the country creates a multiplier effect across the economy. When we buy domestically manufactured products, the money stays inside the country and contributes to economic growth. And we are already seeing that a prolonged war ultimately becomes a war of economies. That is why purchasing from domestic manufacturers — from something as simple as a button to something as complex as an electric motor — is critically important.

It seems Turkey understood this very well. For them, security and economic development go hand in hand. Of course, this is a long-term process. People often ask us: “All right, the motor is Ukrainian — but where do the magnets come from?” Yes, for now the magnets come from China. But if we do not begin building our own motor production, then domestic magnet manufacturers will never emerge either.

In other words, we need to create demand so that component manufacturers appear not in China, but in Ukraine or Europe. And we are already in discussions with several companies planning to launch magnet production both in Ukraine and across Europe. Yes, it will take years. But if we do not start now, then when?

A NEW DEFENSE-INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURING ECOSYSTEM IS GRADUALLY EMERGING IN UKRAINE

UI: So just a few years ago, this market essentially did not exist? And now it does — it is developing and becoming more autonomous.

OH: No, it did not exist. Four years ago, demand for drones was only beginning to emerge. Accordingly, almost no one was producing components. But then everything started growing alongside demand. Demand for drones appeared — and drone manufacturers emerged. Then came component manufacturers, followed by producers of subcomponents. That is how a new defense-industrial production ecosystem is gradually taking shape.

This is very similar to how China developed in its time: first came manufacturers of finished products, then companies producing the equipment needed to manufacture them, and so on. We are still only at the beginning of this path. And if we stay on it, Ukraine’s economy and industrial capabilities have a very promising future ahead.

Of course, we also need external markets. That is why opening the door to export markets is essential. In that case, the added value would remain in Ukraine — and that is exactly what drives economic growth.

UI: There is currently discussion about developing a mechanism for exports even during wartime.

OH: Yes. If the authorities truly manage to establish an export mechanism in a way that does not undermine frontline needs, and if surplus production can be exported, that would be an excellent outcome.

Olha Budnyk led this conversation. Istanbul

Photos via Author