Feature: Ukrainian partnerships grow as strategic advantage for Europe

Swedenʼs Scandinavia X interceptor during trials. (Skygaard)

Demonstrating the operational performance of their military technology in Ukraine and showing a willingness to partner with Ukrainian industry have become important for Western defence companies seeking growth in or with Ukraine's defence industrial sector. However, the models of this co-operation have been changing since 2022.

“Ultimately, the question will be asked – are you [is your technology] used in Ukraine? If not, why not?” Elliott Murphy, head of International Business Development Strategy at Aerospace Defence Security (ADS), a UK defence industry association, told Janes in an interview on 14 October. He believes a rare example of an exception is “if you're making a nuclear submarine, then there's a reason you're not sending your technology to Ukraine”.

Collaborative opportunities with Ukraine include joint ventures (JVs) with manufacturers, technology exchanges, and production opportunities in Ukraine or in the partner country. However, criticism has been directed at those seen as claiming they work in Ukraine while having little footprint there.

“If some companies are opening a representative office in Ukraine, it doesn't mean that they are now ‘present in Ukraine',” Arsen Zhumadilov, director of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence's (MoD's) Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) told Janes on 11 September in London. “You have to make the next step, which is to build your maintenance and repair capabilities in Ukraine for your platforms, for your modules, and your systems. The following step after that would be some sort of partnership with local companies,” he added. Zhumadilov went on to say that he believes that it is “high time” for primes to tap into new partnerships with Ukrainian small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Swedish partnerships