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Kyiv, 25 February 2025 – The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine is actively working to ensure a stable supply of weapons for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, relying on long-term agreements with domestic manufacturers. During a meeting with representatives of the defence industry, the possibility of concluding three-year contracts was discussed, which will provide the Armed Forces with everything they need to continue defending the country. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Defence.
“Long-term agreements with manufacturers guarantee an uninterrupted supply of critical weapons to the frontline,” said First Deputy Minister of Defence Ivan Havryliuk. According to him, the General Staff has already identified a list of priority weapons to be procured in the near future.
Supporting Ukrainian producers is a priority
The Ministry of Defence stressed the need to support the domestic defence sector. So far, contracts worth UAH 208 billion have been signed, which will allow the Armed Forces to receive a wide range of weapons, including:
– artillery systems and ammunition;
– anti-tank missile systems (ATMS);
– mortars of various calibres;
– armoured combat vehicles;
– electronic warfare (EW) equipment;
– bomber drones.
“Long-term agreements will allow producers to better plan their operations, attract investment and develop technologies.”
– said Hlib Kanevskyi, Director of the Defence Ministry’s Procurement Policy Department. According to him, such cooperation will not only ensure the stability of supply but also contribute to the development of the Ukrainian defence industry.
Requirements for manufacturers: mass production and localisation
The defence ministry has compiled a list of required weapons based on the priorities of the General Staff. Manufacturers must comply with a number of requirements:
– mass production of weapons to ensure large volumes of supplies;
– localisation of production in Ukraine at a level of at least 50%;
– undergoing a codification procedure to meet international standards.
Defence procurement reform is also underway, with the aim of increasing transparency, efficiency and simplifying the mechanisms of interaction between the MoD and manufacturers.
Ukraine-EU defence cooperation
In addition to developing its own defence industry, Ukraine is actively cooperating with European partners. In particular, it has recently become known that Ukraine will jointly produce anti-drone missiles with the Belgian division of Thales. This cooperation will strengthen Ukraine’s capabilities in the fight against unmanned aerial vehicles, which is one of the key threats at the frontline.
Ukraine has also ordered a powerful ControlMaster 200 (CM200) radar system from Thales. This radar is capable of detecting air targets at a distance of up to 250 km and at an altitude of up to 24 km, which will significantly enhance the capabilities of Ukrainian air defence systems.
What does this mean for Ukraine’s defence capability?
The introduction of long-term contracts with arms manufacturers will provide the Armed Forces with a steady flow of necessary weapons, reduce dependence on foreign aid and stimulate the development of the Ukrainian defence industry. Successful implementation of this strategy will also contribute to this:
– Increasing the combat capability of the Armed Forces of Ukraine;
– creating new jobs in the defence industry;
– attracting foreign investors to the development of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex;
– strengthening cooperation with international defence companies.
Ukraine is betting on the development of its own defence industry to provide the Armed Forces with everything it needs to win and reduce its dependence on external suppliers.
