Ukrainian and German companies are creating more than ten joint enterprises in the defense sector. The projects cover the production of long-range weapons and interceptor missiles for air defense systems, marking a shift from deliveries toward shared industrial capacity.
German support has changed in scale and form
Germany began the full-scale-war period with assistance measured in several hundred million euros and an early delivery of 5,000 helmets. Military support is now set at 11.5 billion euros in the 2026 budget and in draft planning for 2027, equal to roughly 0.25 percent of German gross domestic product.
Germany has become Ukraine’s leading European military supporter. Assistance now includes air defense missiles, direct financing for individual Ukrainian units, purchases of long-range systems from Ukrainian companies and joint manufacturing.
Joint production becomes the central model
The two countries plan to manufacture air defense systems and long-range missiles together. This industrial approach connects Ukrainian battlefield experience and engineering with German financing, production scale and access to components.
The cooperation also supports decisions and capabilities previously discussed with G7 partners for Ukrainian operations and for increasing pressure on Russia to return to peace negotiations. A separate Ukrainian-German agreement has already opened the way to jointly develop a new air defense system capable of intercepting ballistic missiles.
Deterrence serves both countries
Stronger long-range capabilities are important not only for Ukraine but also for Germany and the rest of Europe. Long-range systems, including cruise or ballistic missiles, can form part of a deterrent against the wider Russian threat.
The creation of joint enterprises is therefore more than a procurement mechanism. It embeds Ukrainian and German manufacturers in common programs, expands Europe’s defense production base and creates capacity that can continue operating beyond individual aid packages.
