--- title: "Fedorov Offers the US a 'Drone Army' in Exchange for Patriot Interceptors and Reveals Plans for an American Defense Technology Fund" description: "Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov proposed that the US create a \"drone army\" in exchange for Patriot interceptors and announced plans to attract American investment into a Ukrainian defense technology fund." date: 2026-08-30T21:48:02.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/fedorov-drone-army-patriot-interceptors-us-defense-technology-fund tags: [mikhail-fedorov, ukraine-defense, drone-warfare, patriot-missiles, us-ukraine, defense-tech, italy, financial-times] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Fedorov Offers the US a 'Drone Army' in Exchange for Patriot Interceptors and Reveals Plans for an American Defense Technology Fund ![Ihor Fedorov in a black suit against the Ukrainian flag: proposal to the US for a 'drone army' in exchange for Patriot interceptors](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/30/fedorov-armiya-dronov-patriot-ssha-fond-oboronnykh-tekhnologiy/fedorov-armiya-dronov-patriot-ssha-fond-oboronnykh-tekhnologiy-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Fedorov proposed exchanging Ukrainian experience in building a "drone army" for the supply of Patriot interceptors for the winter period - The former minister is in talks with American venture capitalists and tech companies about creating a defense technology fund - Fedorov holds the post of advisor to the Italian Minister of Defense and is considering similar roles in France and the US - In Fedorov's assessment, Russia may drag the war out for another two to three years Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov made a resonant proposal: he is ready to help the United States create a so-called "drone army" in exchange for the supply of interceptor missiles for Patriot air defense systems. The statement, made in an interview with the Financial Times and confirmed by Ukrainian media on August 30, 2026, came against the backdrop of growing pressure on Ukraine's air defense system and debates over a long-term strategy for confronting Russia. ### "Experience for Iron": Fedorov's Formula "I would be very happy to help America create a drone army," Fedorov stated. "Especially in exchange for Patriot interceptors, which Ukraine needs to get through the winter." According to him, Ukraine has accumulated unprecedented practical experience in the field of unmanned warfare, and this experience could become a valuable asset for the American defense industry. "I am ready to make such an exchange," the former minister emphasized. At the same time, Fedorov declined to comment on a possible meeting in Washington with representatives of Donald Trump's administration, leaving the question open. ### Defense Technology Fund and American Investment In parallel with the exchange proposal, Fedorov revealed plans to create a defense technology fund that, in his words, should "write a new history" of the war against Russia by creating and managing companies that develop new weapons. In his assessment, Russia will likely drag the conflict out for another two to three years, and it is precisely this fund that should develop the most advanced solutions for the battlefield, passing on to investors the experience Ukraine has gained during the hostilities. Fedorov reported that he is in talks with an "abundance" of potential investors β€” venture capitalists, private individuals, and American technology companies. However, he did not disclose details about his role in managing the fund or any potential personal financial gain. ### International Advisory Roles: From Italy to France and the US Commenting on his recently announced appointment as an advisor to the Italian Minister of Defense, Fedorov stated that he is seeking similar advisory positions in other partner countries β€” possibly in France and in the United States. Within the framework of the Italian project, he will help the country develop modern warfare technologies in the areas of digitalization and defense tech. This appointment became one of Fedorov's first public steps after leaving the post of Defense Minister, a position that, according to reports, was taken by Yevheniy Hmara. ### Context: Leadership Change and Corruption Allegations The new Ukrainian Defense Minister, Yevheniy Hmara, meanwhile, revealed the composition of his team in the Ministry of Defense and described what proposals he had discussed with Fedorov himself during the transfer of authority. Earlier, the former minister had also stated that President Volodymyr Zelensky himself should explain what he knew about the corruption situation in his immediate circle. In addition, it was reported that Fedorov received four proposals for further work in the president's team but declined all of them. Thus, his current trajectory β€” international advisory roles and private investment projects β€” appears to be a deliberate choice in favor of working outside the state apparatus. ## πŸ” Fact-Check Verification - [Fedorov proposed the US create a drone army in exchange for missiles for Patriot](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/fedorov-zaproponuvav-ssha-stvoriti-armiyu-1788123607.html) - ΠŸΠΎΠ΄Ρ‚Π²Π΅Ρ€ΠΆΠ΄Π°Π΅Ρ‚ основноС ΠΏΡ€Π΅Π΄Π»ΠΎΠΆΠ΅Π½ΠΈΠ΅ ΠΎΠ± ΠΎΠ±ΠΌΠ΅Π½Π΅ Π΄Ρ€ΠΎΠ½ΠΎΠ² Π½Π° ΠΏΠ΅Ρ€Π΅Ρ…Π²Π°Ρ‚Ρ‡ΠΈΠΊΠΈ Patriot. - [Fedorov offers the US to create a "drone army" in exchange for interceptors for Patriot – FT](https://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2026/08/30/8051082/) - БсылаСтся Π½Π° FT ΠΊΠ°ΠΊ ΠΏΠ΅Ρ€Π²ΠΈΡ‡Π½Ρ‹ΠΉ источник. ΠŸΠΎΠ΄Ρ‚Π²Π΅Ρ€ΠΆΠ΄Π°Π΅Ρ‚ Ρ„ΠΎΡ€ΠΌΡƒΠ»ΠΈΡ€ΠΎΠ²ΠΊΡƒ «армия Π΄Ρ€ΠΎΠ½ΠΎΠ²Β» ΠΈ контСкст Π·ΠΈΠΌΠ½ΠΈΡ… потрСбностСй ΠŸΠ’Πž. - [Fedorov wants to attract investment from the US for a new Ukrainian defense technology fund β€” FT](https://zn.ua/POLITICS/fedorov-khochet-privlech-investitsii-iz-ssha-dlja-novoho-fonda-oboronnykh-tekhnolohij-ukrainy-ft.html) - ΠŸΠΎΠ΄Ρ‚Π²Π΅Ρ€ΠΆΠ΄Π°Π΅Ρ‚ ΠΏΠ»Π°Π½Ρ‹ ΠΏΠΎ Ρ„ΠΎΠ½Π΄Ρƒ ΠΎΠ±ΠΎΡ€ΠΎΠ½Π½Ρ‹Ρ… Ρ‚Π΅Ρ…Π½ΠΎΠ»ΠΎΠ³ΠΈΠΉ ΠΈ ΠΏΡ€ΠΈΠ²Π»Π΅Ρ‡Π΅Π½ΠΈΡŽ амСриканских инвСстиций. - [Fedorov seeks investment in the US for a defense technology fund and offers to exchange drones for ...](https://ru.interfax.com.ua/news/general/1197231.html) - ΠŸΠΎΠ΄Ρ‚Π²Π΅Ρ€ΠΆΠ΄Π°Π΅Ρ‚ ΠΎΠ±Π΅ ΠΊΠ»ΡŽΡ‡Π΅Π²Ρ‹Π΅ Π»ΠΈΠ½ΠΈΠΈ: ΠΎΠ±ΠΌΠ΅Π½ Π΄Ρ€ΠΎΠ½ΠΎΠ² Π½Π° ΠΏΠ΅Ρ€Π΅Ρ…Π²Π°Ρ‚Ρ‡ΠΈΠΊΠΈ ΠΈ поиск инвСстиций для Ρ„ΠΎΠ½Π΄Π°. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: What exactly did Fedorov offer in exchange for Patriot interceptors? **A:** Fedorov offered to help the US create a "drone army" by transferring Ukrainian practical experience in the field of unmanned warfare to the American side. In his words, this exchange is particularly relevant for Ukraine, which needs Patriot interceptors to get through the winter period. ### Q: What defense technology fund does Fedorov plan to create? **A:** Fedorov spoke of plans to create a fund that would "write a new history" of the war by creating and managing companies that develop new weapons. The fund is to attract American investment β€” from venture capitalists, private individuals, and tech companies β€” and to pass on Ukrainian combat experience to investors. ### Q: What international positions does Fedorov hold after leaving the post of minister? **A:** Fedorov became an advisor to the Italian Minister of Defense on digitalization and defense tech. He also stated his intention to obtain similar advisory positions in France and in the US. ### Q: How long, in Fedorov's assessment, could the war last? **A:** In Fedorov's assessment, Russia will likely drag the conflict out for another two to three years. It is precisely during this period, in his words, that the defense technology fund should develop the most advanced solutions for the battlefield.