Ukraine plans to spend 20 billion Ukrainian hryvnia ($545 million) buying drones — or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) — this year, the country’s defense minister announced Monday on Facebook.

“Development of Ukrainian UAV market is one of key focus areas for the Ministry of Defense,” Oleksiy Reznikov said in the statement. “Following consultations with the General Staff and testing/trials, sixteen contracts have been made by the Ministry of Defense with domestic UAV producers.”

“We will increase UAVs purchases for the Defense Forces in 2023, and we plan spending about 20 billion UAH,” he said.

The announcement comes as Ukraine continues to face rounds of Russian missile attacks and has renewed calls for Western jets and long-range missile systems.