Ukraine invites global companies to test advanced weapons systems on its soil

Ukraine has launched a new opportunity for foreign defense companies to test their latest weapons directly on the battlefield, the Ukrainian government-backed defense incubator Brave1 announced.

The “Test in Ukraine” initiative allows allied countries to provide prototypes of drones, autonomously guided weapons, maritime unmanned systems, electronic warfare, and artificial intelligence products for testing in real combat conditions.

In return, Brave1 will provide detailed reports on the effectiveness of the tested equipment and offer immediate recommendations for improvements and adaptations. Participants in the program will also have the opportunity to collaborate with Ukrainian manufacturers working on similar technologies, accelerating the integration of innovations into combat-ready systems.

“We are ready to support companies from partner countries in developing, testing, and improving technologies that perform effectively on the battlefield,” said Ukraine’s Minister for Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov. “This is an opportunity to gain experience that cannot be replicated in a laboratory.”

The initiative prioritises testing drones, ammunition, artificial intelligence (AI) in defence products, electronic warfare (EW), countermeasures, missiles, and propulsion systems, according to the initiative’s official website. Foreign arms manufacturers can collaborate with local producers to scale developments and accelerate market entry, though details on intellectual property ownership and business structures remain unclear.

While testing will occur on a “fully equipped testing ground” with troop participation, meaning weapons will not be tested directly on Russian forces,the website mentions “structured feedback and data from frontline use”.That introducing some ambiguity about whether the technology will be evaluated in actual combat scenarios.

Defence and economic priorities

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy outlined on 17 June the priorities of the new Ukrainian government, emphasising the expansion of domestic weapons production, enhancement of internal economic potential, refinement of the Heroes’ Potreamlining of social policy, and deepened defence cooperation with key partners.

Zelenskyy thanked the government officials, led by former Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, for their efforts and outlined expectations for the new government. He noted that the management of the defence sector and weapons production is being transformed to increase the share of Ukrainian-made weapons available to Ukrainian forces to at least 50% within six months, up from the current 40%.

He also announced plans for new agreements with the United States to strengthen Ukraine’s position, necessitating changes in diplomatic efforts. “Together with government officials, our diplomats, and the National Security and Defense Council, we are preparing a new level of defense cooperation with key partners. Ukraine will be among the world’s leading security donors and weapons manufacturers,” Zelenskyy stated.

To ensure confidence in the supply of the Defence Forces, Ukraine is increasing its internal economic potential through deregulation, eliminating bureaucratic obstacles and redundant institutions, engaging partner capacity, and adopting stricter measures against those who undermine Ukrainian statehood or misappropriate its resources.

Ukraine’s role in EU armament efforts

The “Test in Ukraine” initiative aligns with efforts to integrate Ukrainian defense technology startups into the broader European armament framework. Brave1 recently announced the BraveTechEU partnership, which will allocate up to €100 million through Brave1, the European Defense Fund, and the EU Defence Innovation Program to finance hackathons, investor connections, and research.

The European Union has activated a €150 billion SAFE loan program, enabling member states to finance joint defence projects, with at least 65% of weapon components produced within the EU or Ukraine. A joint EU-Ukraine industrial cooperation task force has been established to integrate Ukraine into the European “defence technology ecosystem.”

Ukraine has also signed a €67 million agreement with Denmark, allowing Danish defence companies to develop projects on Ukrainian territory – the first agreement of its kind.

Major defence companies, including Sweden’s SAAB, Norway’s Kongsberg, Franco-German KNDS, Germany’s Rheinmetall, and U.S.-based Raytheon, are expanding their presence in Ukraine, according to a June press release from the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.

Experts told Euronews Next that Ukraine should be included in “joint planning” with the EU, as it can provide valuable feedback and insights on conventional weapons, which remain a critical part of its arms acquisition strategies.

A key goal of the initiative is to bolster Ukrainian production by attracting foreign capital and technology. In November 2024, industry representatives expressed frustration over insufficient government orders to sustain production lines, indicating that Ukraine had the capacity but lacked the funding to produce needed weapons.

This issue persisted into June 2025, according to a Business Insider report, despite a 900% surge in Ukrainian drone production. One potential solution is the “Danish Model,” where Kyiv’s allies purchase Ukrainian weapons for Ukraine instead of relying on foreign manufacturers.

“Mega deal” with U.S.

Kyiv and Washington are exploring a “mega deal” that would see the U.S. purchase battlefield-tested Ukrainian drones in exchange for Kyiv acquiring a range of weapons from the U.S., Zelenskyy revealed in an exclusive interview with The New York Post on Wednesday. This deal could transform U.S. military capabilities, as officials and drone experts have warned that American technology lags behind Russia and China, leaving U.S. soldiers underprepared to operate or defend against advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

“The people of America need this technology, and you need to have it in your arsenal,” Zelenskyy told The New York Post, referring to Ukraine’s advanced drones, which have penetrated Russian defences to destroy heavy bombers and strike targets up to 800 miles beyond the border.

While specific details remain undisclosed, the deal would provide Kyiv with access to U.S. weapons in exchange for sharing combat-tested drone technologies with Washington. Zelenskyy emphasised that Ukraine is prepared to share its drone expertise with the U.S. and European countries, including Denmark, Norway, and Germany.

This proposal aligns with Trump’s evolving military strategy, which, according to Reuters, prioritizes drones and long-range missiles over conventional naval and aerial assets in the draft defense budget for fiscal year 2026.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Kyiv has significantly expanded drone production across air, land, and sea domains, with plans to manufacture 30,000 long-range drones in 2025. Ukraine’s hybrid strike platforms, such as the Palianytsia and Peklo missile-drones, have garnered global attention for their precision and extended-range capabilities.

Ukraine conducted on 1 June an unprecedented drone strike as part of Operation Spiderweb, targeting four Russian air bases deep inside Russia using first-person view (FPV) drones.