Ukraine starts armament program: Foreigners test weapons on the front!

Ukraine starts armament program: Foreigners test weapons on the front!

There are exciting developments in Ukraine's defense industry that could have a profound impact on the country's defense strategy given the ongoing conflict with Russia. A new program called “Test in Ukraine” gives foreign defense companies the opportunity to test their latest technological achievements directly on the front lines. This program, run by the state-backed defense investment and procurement group Brave1, is attracting a lot of interest, although no specific companies have been named as taking part.

Artem Moroz, Head of Investor Relations at Brave1, emphasizes that the initiative aims to provide an important understanding of the availability and effectiveness of new technologies in the ongoing fight against Russian forces. The Russian army is continuing its attack on Ukraine across a front line more than 1,000 kilometers long, increasing the intensity of its air strikes on Ukrainian cities. In this context, the role of the domestic defense industry becomes even more important. While foreign companies offer their products for testing, the Ukrainian defense industry is constantly growing and using foreign investments to strengthen its capabilities.

Ukrainian defense industry in focus

The Ukrainian defense industry has the potential to produce products worth 20 billion hryvnias, but purchases just 6 billion hryvnias. This discrepancy is primarily caused by the fact that two thirds of production capacity is currently idle, which makes it difficult to acquire investors. A recent report indicates that the defense industry contributed about 1.5 percent to the 5.3 percent economic growth in 2023.

The Ukrainian government has budgeted a defense budget of 2.2 trillion hryvnia for 2024, with 246 billion hryvnia earmarked for the purchase of domestic weapons systems. This support could help Ukrainian companies increase their production capacities and reduce dependence on international supplies. An outstanding example is the Bohdana howitzer, which is half cheaper than its French competitors and is entirely produced in Ukraine. 25 companies and 400 people are involved in their production, which strengthens the country's production base.

Innovative solutions for combat

The Ukrainian military leadership is currently intensively experimenting with innovative solutions. Drones play a key role in filling the gaps created by a limited number of artillery pieces. President Volodymyr Zelensky has set the ambitious goal of producing one million drones this year. This also includes the use of first-person view drones equipped with explosives and used specifically against Russian troops.

In addition to drones, the Griselda information system is being further developed, which uses information from satellites, drones and social networks to capture over 25,000 targets per month. This allows the Ukrainian armed forces to react quickly and act strategically. There is also progress in the production of armored vehicles and other heavy weapon systems, but companies face challenges, particularly in terms of financing and bureaucratization.

Overall, it can be seen that the Ukrainian defense industry is on the path to renewal due to various factors and initiatives. However, to better address future crises, greater support and a clearer regulatory environment are needed. It will be exciting to see how these developments will continue to unfold in the coming months.

The Test in Ukraine program is a further step towards strengthening the currently vital defense capability while exploiting the full potential of domestic industry as the pressure of Russian aggression continues.

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