Who finances military developments in Ukraine, and which directions are priorities?

For almost half a year, the BRAVE1 defense cluster has funded 57 projects worth more than $1M. Among them are combat robots with turrets, drones with artificial intelligence, naval drones, and anti-radio electronic warfare systems.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine have defined 12 priorities. These are UAVs, radio-electronic warfare systems and radio-electronic intelligence, and communication systems that allow control of complexes that are engaged by enemy radio-electronic warfare. Combat and humanitarian demining, guidance systems, and logistics are also priorities.

So far, the grants issued by the cluster are financed by the state. Most donors are not ready to finance the defense sector, but there is great interest and willingness from international defense funds and companies to invest in Ukraine.

According to the COO of the cluster, Nataliia Kushnerska, if Ukraine used to be a risk zone for many companies, now everyone understands that they are either in Ukraine or “outside”.