Defense Shield: How Ukraine Strengthens Its Own Military-industrial Complex
- 26.08.2025, 16:27
- 1,710
Kiev has agreed with a number of partners to scale drone production.
Kiev will share its experience in drone production and use with Australia. A delegation from that country, headed by the Director of Joint Force Development, Brigadier General Grant Chambers, has arrived in Ukraine. Kiev has also already agreed with a number of partners on financing and scaling drone production. The story of how Ukraine is strengthening its military-industrial complex amid war was told by journalists of FREEDOM.
Kiev and Vilnius will jointly produce defense products to strengthen the security of both countries. The corresponding letter of intent was signed in Kiev by the heads of the defense departments of Ukraine and Lithuania Denis Shmygal and Dovile Shakalene. This will create opportunities for launching new enterprises, development of Ukrainian companies in Lithuania and technology exchange. In particular, we are talking about long-range drones.
- It is important that Lithuania will continue to allocate 0.25% of its GDP for military aid to Ukraine until 2027. This is a strong signal of long-term support for our warriors. Focused on attracting additional funding for the purchase of weapons and the development of Ukrainian industry. Thank you Lithuania for systematic and unwavering support of Ukraine on the way to victory," the defense minister said.
Ottawa is also planning to join the joint drone manufacturing with Ukraine. This was announced by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during his visit to Kiev on August 24. According to him, the country has already started preparations for the deployment of drone production facilities to reinforce the Ukrainian Armed Forces. To finance the initiative, Canada will allocate part of the $2 billion it is transferring to Ukraine as part of the G7 agreements.
- We will allocate more than $200 million for the joint production of defense materials in our two countries, particularly modern drones, with the involvement of Canadian suppliers," Carney said.
The President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky emphasized that there are clear agreements, an action plan to implement the security agreement between the countries.
- Also an agreement on administrative assistance in customs affairs was signed at the level of our ministers and an agreement on the production of drones, - explained the President of Ukraine.
The experience of Kiev in the development of the drone industry will be adopted by Canberra. An Australian delegation has arrived in Ukraine. It includes experts in drone systems and technologies. Canberra is interested in scaling up the production of drones, as well as their combat use and training of relevant personnel.
- We are grateful to Australia for political and financial assistance, as well as for the supply of weapons. For our part, we are ready to share our experience in the development of the drone industry," Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Serhiy Boyev said.
Norway is ready to help with the development of Ukrainian drone production, the country's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stere said in Kiev on August 25. Earlier, Denis Shmygal said that since the beginning of the year Oslo has allocated 400 million dollars for the purchase of Ukrainian UAVs.
- Norway is a member of the drone coalition and we are investing in the Ukrainian industry. We will use this visit to move in this direction and to produce such weapons in the most efficient way," the Norwegian prime minister said.
In 2025-2026, Oslo intends to allocate almost $8.5 billion to support Kiev under the Nansen program. It is designed to support Ukraine from 2023 to 2027. The funds are distributed annually according to Ukraine's needs.
- I asked the Prime Minister to consider the possibility of directing exactly to drones the funds that are left for this year under the Nansen program. It will be very, very tangible. And the more drones we have both to defend positions and for long-range strikes, the more serious will be the pressure on Russia for the sake of peace," Zelensky said.
The president also thanked Norway for supplying NASAMS surface-to-air missile systems. According to him, Kiev hopes to establish joint production of SAMs. In addition, the day before, Oslo together with Berlin reported the allocation of 700 million dollars for the purchase of air defense systems for Ukraine, according to the Norwegian government website.
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