Working with Ukraine’s Defence Sector
This new set of guidelines sets out “to help UK companies understand how to engage responsibly and effectively with Ukraine’s defence ecosystem, in alignment with both UK and Ukrainian priorities. The guidance reflects lessons learned from recent initiatives, including bilateral trade missions and coalition-based procurement efforts.” It sets out in very clear terms the opportunities, risks and operational procedures needed to interact efficiently with the Ukraine defence sector.
Ukraine leads the world in military innovation
The Ukrainian defence sector is a world leader, initiatives have connected their defence industry to Western investors and businesses which has resulted in them becoming experts in the production of military equipment. Likewise the Ukraine conflict has also meant that NATO nations have been able to trial weapons in live combat scenarios for rapid development and integration. The superpowers had been locked in a technological race for decades producing ever mor complex and eye wateringly expensive military tech only for their world to be turned upside down by cheap drones and ingenuity.
It’s not hyperbole to claim that the sheer inventiveness and innovation of the Ukraine defence sector has challenged and transformed the established views of how wars will be fought from now on. The headline item is surely that production of munitions needs to be ramped up from the frankly woeful state of our existing stockpiles, the amounts left in the UK were only suficient for Britain to fight a war for three to four weeks before we burned through our stockpiles. We’ve supplied 400,000 artillery shells, over 50,000 drones and Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Ukraine’s armed forces, getting back to
Pledges to ramp up defence spending have been made by most of the EU countries, in britain it has become one of the Governments central pillars in its search for growth. So this thirteen page document is practical guide for British defence companies wanting to do business with Ukraine.
What’s in the guide?
It “outlines practical routes to market, key stakeholders, and considerations for building sustainable industrial relationships in Ukraine.” The approved route is via a software portal called KOROVAI, developed with international partners utilised by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Requests to KOROVAI are generated via NATO Security Assistance & Training – Ukraine (NSAT-U), the MOD has set up Taskforce KINDRED (TFK) to ensure speedy response using UK stockpiles or newly procured items for provision to Ukraine.
As the conflict has proceeded procurement has turned to the development of new and novel solutions to the demands of the Ukranian battlefield. The UK must be able to move quickly to develop, test and deploy new systems, whether drones, software or munitions. Stimulating the UK’s industrial production is essential to the Governments aims, both in aiding Ukraine, building a stable and capable UK industrial base in defence, and not least in stimulating UK economic growth.
Find the document at https://cms-assets.great.prod.uktrade.digital/documents/working-with-ukraines-defence-sector-oct-2025.pdf
