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Georgia eyes domestic production of UAVs and Su-25s

19th January 2021 - 18:00 GMT | by Eugene Gerden in St Petersburg

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While the Georgian MoD has made clear its ambitions, realising them may prove more complicated.

Georgia is proclaiming its readiness to set up domestic production of UAVs and fixed-wing combat aircraft over the next few years as part of a broader procurement surge — but reality may temper these bold ambitions.

Minister of Defence Irakli Garibashvili said in December 2020 that the ex-Soviet republic aims to build up its defence industry to manufacture military airframes.

The MoD has even claimed that UAV production could begin in the first half of 2021, with assistance from foreign partners.

Garibashvili said on 25 December that the MoD is holding discussions with the Czech Republic, Israel, Poland and the

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Eugene Gerden

Eugene Gerden is a Shephard correspondent based in St Petersburg.

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