Ukraine has launched a new mechanism for cooperation between the Ministry of Defense and private weapons manufacturers, designed to accelerate the mass production of proven military technologies and strengthen the country’s defense capabilities.
The initiative allows private industry to scale up government-developed weapon systems under official supervision — ensuring faster delivery of equipment to the front.
State-Private Cooperation Framework
According to Valerii Borovyk, combat veteran and founder of First Contact, the mechanism bridges the gap between state-developed prototypes and industrial-scale production.
“The state has developments but not always the production capacity. It can now turn to private companies capable of producing dozens or hundreds of units,” Borovyk explained on Apostrophe TV.
There are two main cooperation scenarios:
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When research units or institutes of the Armed Forces hand over a working prototype to the state, which then contracts private companies for mass production.
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When the Ministry of Defense holds classified developments that need to be brought to serial form — now possible through secure collaboration with commercial producers under state control.
Scope and Strategic Potential
The mechanism enables the transfer of technologies not only to Ukrainian but also to foreign partners, provided they meet strict criteria for secure facilities, technical capacity, and qualified personnel.
It will initially focus on scaling technologies already field-tested by Ukrainian troops — particularly within the Unmanned Systems Forces and Air Defense.
Borovyk emphasized that many private manufacturers currently face idle production lines due to a lack of state contracts, despite having modern equipment and experienced teams.
“There are many companies that bought good machinery to produce FPV and other drones. Some of these facilities are now idle. This mechanism gives them a way to work again,” he noted.
Among the technologies suitable for scaling, Borovyk listed:
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Air defense and electronic-warfare systems,
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Drone integration software,
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Underwater and surface platforms,
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And even large-scale missile systems such as Neptune.
Advantages and Risks
The new model has clear advantages:
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Rapid increase in production volumes,
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Utilization of existing private capacities,
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Job creation, and
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Shorter transition time from idea to mass production.
However, Borovyk also warned about challenges — including the need for rigorous quality control, protection of intellectual property, and preventing technology leaks abroad.
Industrial and Economic Context
The initiative follows the government’s decision to launch experimental technology-transfer programs within the defense sector.
It is expected to significantly increase the output of battlefield-proven weapons and optimize state expenditures.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has set a target for Ukrainian-made weapons to account for at least 50% of all systems used at the front by the end of the year — with plans to export select categories of weaponry in the future to finance the defense budget.
Earlier, defense analysts noted that up to half of Ukraine’s manufacturing capacity remains idle due to funding constraints, while partnerships with Western allies — such as the €110 million UAV production program with the Netherlands — are beginning to unlock additional resources.
Summary
Ukraine’s new state-private cooperation mechanism represents a turning point for the domestic defense industry.
By linking state R&D institutions with private production facilities, Kyiv aims to transform innovation into mass-produced military hardware — accelerating rearmament, strengthening industrial resilience, and laying the groundwork for future defense exports.
