The largest private Ukrainian arms producer is working on manufacturing components and assembling the Spanish-Austrian ASCOD IFV under license, said Vladyslav Belbas, director of Ukrainian Armored Vehicles.
For now, there should be a purchase of a test batch, and then negotiations on the localization of production will begin. ASCOD IFV, in various modifications, is in service with Spain, Austria, the Philippines, and the UK.
Belbas also reported that the company negotiated the purchase of fighter jets from a country “on the other side of the planet.” The Ministry of Defense confirmed that the seller was ready to sell them. However, a letter about this agreement fell into the hands of the Russians.
“A representative of the Russian embassy in this country began to threaten local officials that Russia would cover up some projects for this country. In the end, the deal broke down because the supplier country changed its mind about offering these fighters,” he said.