Moldova plans domestic drone manufacturing for defense
Moldova plans to launch domestic drone production to meet critical national needs, requiring parliament to amend current legislation that bars such industrial activity, Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu announced.
Legislative adjustments for domestic capacity
Speaking on Realitatea TV, Grosu emphasized that the government is focusing on fulfilling internal demand rather than producing unmanned aerial systems for export.
“We have such plans,” said Grosu. “The role of parliament is to amend legislation to permit this economic manufacturing activity, because the current legal framework does not allow it.”
The parliament speaker dismissed suggestions that Moldova intends to produce drones for foreign markets, reiterating that safeguarding domestic requirements remains the immediate priority.
“We will do this for ourselves, to ensure our own needs,” said Grosu. “Someone was speculating yesterday that we are doing this to export. If we only had enough for ourselves, we would cover our own needs.”
Dual-use and airspace security
Grosu noted that the manufactured units would not be limited to military applications. The systems would also support emergency operations, search-and-rescue missions, and precision agriculture.
“It is not solely about defense,” said Grosu. “These devices are used in exceptional situations, when searching for lost or injured citizens, and in agriculture and many other fields.”
President Maia Sandu previously highlighted the necessity of manufacturing interceptor drones and anti-drone defenses locally, following recurring violations of Moldovan airspace by Russian reconnaissance and strike drones near the Ukrainian border.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
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