Kaptur Announces That Leading Ukrainian Drone Manufacturer Selects Northwest Ohio For First US Assembly and Manufacturing Center

June 29, 2026 Press Release Toledo, OH — Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, and a senior member of the House Defense Subcommittee on Appropriations joined local partners to announce that after receiving its first Pentagon contract, Ukrainian Defense Drones (UDD) has chosen Northwest Ohio for its first major US assembly and manufacturing center. UDD, the US company representing Ukraine’s F-Drones, is expected to make an $18.4 Million investment for the new production project in the Village of Holland, creating at least 300 new jobs. The Lucas County facility will support US and allied demand for first-person-view drones, unmanned systems, training and testing, and dual-use commercial applications. The project is structured around production, workforce development, supply-chain localization, hardware and software integration, customer demonstrations, and long-term US expansion. "An all-hands-on deck approach won the day after our sustained engagement to attract one of the leading manufacturers of unmanned systems, Ukrainian Defense Drones (UDD)—the US arm of Ukraine's F-Drones—to start assembly in Northwest Ohio. UDD is on the cutting edge of drone technology and defense innovation, and its systems are battle-tested on the frontlines of Liberty defending the free people of Ukraine from Dictator Vladimir Putin's merciless invasion," said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus. Kaptur, a senior member of the House Defense Subcommittee on Appropriations, continued, "UDD is now one of the leaders in the Pentagon's Drone Dominance Program to ensure that American troops can defend themselves with the best technology available. I have been proud to work with the UDD team to spotlight the benefits of investing here in Northwest Ohio. We worked closely alongside the Regional Growth Partnership and JobsOhio to develop a strategic partnership with the potential to grow into a substantial and sustained presence in our Great Lakes region. With a talented workforce, proven manufacturing infrastructure, research, and testing, as well as a community that celebrates the shared benefits of working with our allies abroad, we are confident in our potential to be a leader in US drone manufacturing. Northwest Ohio’s manufacturing prowess formed the backbone of the Arsenal of Democracy that defeated Fascism in World War II and helped build the middle class as we know it. Our region stands ready to create a future that will ensure jobs and industry leadership for Northwest Ohio's manufacturing workforce." "The urgent national security imperative of dominating the drone space and the economic benefits for our communities are why I'm proud to lead on these issues on Capitol Hill, including by introducing my bipartisan Strategic Unmanned Systems Partnership Act this week to ensure America continues working with our Ukrainian allies on these issues,” Kaptur concluded. “There is no better place than Ohio for our allies to build the technology that strengthens our national defense, and UDD’s decision to invest here means 300 new jobs for the people of Lucas County," said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. "This investment strengthens our economy and the manufacturing base that our nation’s security depends on.” “Becoming the first Ukrainian drone manufacturer authorized by the Government of Ukraine to export drone systems to the US military is a historic milestone, and the next step is to share the technology to produce these drones on American soil. We’re proud to support the vision behind the emerging US–Ukraine Drone Deal and to help strengthen the security and technological leadership of both our nations,” said Stas Khutor, CEO of F-Drones. "Ukraine did more than adapt to drone warfare — it helped invent it. We were the first in the world to turn drones into a tool of national defense, to refine them under fire into something close to perfection, and to make them the backbone of our ability to hold the line against a far larger aggressor. The lessons learned here are now shaping the future of modern warfare. At F-Drones, we believe these hard-won capabilities should strengthen not just Ukraine but the entire free world — our mission is simple: Making the Free World Unbreakable." “Ohio gives defense innovators everything they need to move from innovation to production at scale — an exceptional workforce, a deep manufacturing supply chain and the speed to deliver the products needed to arm US and allied forces," said JP Nauseef, JobsOhio President and CEO. "Together with our partners at the Regional Growth Partnership, we welcome UDD’s decision to onshore production in Ohio. This investment strengthens America’s defense industrial base, secures critical manufacturing on US soil, and reinforces Ohio’s leadership in advanced aerospace and defense manufacturing." “U2D2 has the honor to assist over a dozen Ukrainian and Eastern European companies cumulatively producing more than 10,000 drones per day, that have elected to become part of the Department of War Drone Dominance program. UDD’s Ohio facility is just the beginning," said Rear Admiral (Ret.) Michael Hewitt, U2D2 Chairman. "We believe that Ohio will become a vertically integrated manufacturing hub for all types of unmanned systems and their components." “For scaled manufacturing, workforce, cost structure, logistics and access to the American market, Northwest Ohio is the right platform for this project,” said Ottawa Hills Council Member Darren Moore. “The Board of Lucas County Commissioners is excited to welcome UDD Tech Corp. to our community. Lucas County was carefully chosen as the location for UDD’s first US-based manufacturing facility after a highly competitive site selection process," said the Lucas County Board of Commissioners. "The decision to locate in Lucas County reflects on our County’s many strengths, including our skilled and experienced manufacturing workforce, strategic transportation and logistics network, and business ecosystem that supports future business growth. We look forward to working with UDD as they establish and grow their operations here, and we stand ready to support their success for years to come.” “The Lucas County Department of Economic Development appreciates our partnership with JobsOhio and the Regional Growth Partnership as we work together to position the community to attract new investment opportunities like UDD Tech. Corp. Lucas County’s economy was forged on innovation and advanced manufacturing, and UDD decision to locate its first US-based manufacturing facility here reflects on that tradition of advanced manufacturing excellence," said Jamie Beier Grant, Director of the Lucas County Department of Economic Development. "By investing in our assets, strengthening our competitive advantages, and proactively preparing sites for development, Lucas County will continue to attract significant investments that create jobs, grow our tax base and strengthen our community for generations to come." Driving the process which ultimately attracted UDD to Northwest Ohio was the US Department of Defense’s Drone Dominance Program, a $1 Billion plan to accelerate growth of the US industrial base and rapidly arm combat units with low-cost, consumable drones at scale. By 2027, the Program intends to purchase over 200,000 drones that can produce lethal effects in the toughest battlefield environments. Competing with F-Drones’ combat-proven F10 platform, UDD ranked sixth overall in the first phase of the Drone Dominance Program’s Gauntlet, securing a US government prototype contract for the delivery of 2,000 first-person-view drones. F-Drones has more than three years of wartime operating experience, with technology that has been developed, tested, adapted and deployed under real battlefield conditions in Ukraine. The US and allies now need scalable, affordable and secure drone production. And combat-proven systems are moving faster than traditional defense procurement cycles. UDD’s decision adds to a growing roster of global aerospace and defense innovators establishing operations in Ohio. From Anduril to Joby Aviation, and now UDD Tech, companies building the technologies that strengthen the US economy and help protect the nation are increasingly choosing the state — drawn by a combination of world-class manufacturing, engineering talent, research institutions, military partnerships and testing capabilities that is difficult to replicate elsewhere. Each new investment reinforces Ohio’s position as a national leader in advanced aerospace and defense manufacturing, reflecting how much of the innovation underpinning America’s defense industrial base is now taking root in the state. This project further elevates Toledo and Northwest Ohio as a US manufacturing hub for drones and unmanned systems. This region has more than 130,000 people working in the advanced manufacturing sector with a GRP of $11.6 Billion, representing 24% of the state total. # # # Issues : Trade Jobs and the Economy Energy