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Technology has played a key role for as long as humans have waged war. New military technologies determine the shape and path of warfare and provide undeniable advantages to those who possess them. Today, the rise of AI, drones, and autonomous control systems are changing the face of warfare and shifting the battlefield into a technological world. Ukraine is on the cusp of this process.
In the year As of February 2022, Ukraine is bracing itself for a major war against an enemy vastly superior in conventional weapons and manpower. But while Russia relies on artillery bombs and human-wave tactics, Ukraine is waging a new type of warfare that uses highly innovative and often sophisticated technological solutions. This focus on defense technology has been instrumental in many of Ukraine’s most impressive military achievements over the past fifteen months. If given the right support, it will help secure victory over Russia.
The Ukrainian military has demonstrated its ability to use everything from drone technologies to satellite communications to effectively manage the modern battlefield. These technologies will help save the lives of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians, as well as significantly increase the effectiveness of combat operations.
At the same time, it is important to suppress the enemy. Russian military commanders recognize the importance of defense technology and are working hard to bridge the gap in areas where Ukraine has taken the lead. To stay ahead, it’s important to constantly innovate. This requires a strategic approach to the development of Ukraine’s defense technology sector.
Ukraine’s immediate goal is to create a fast track for defense technology innovation that could make a significant contribution to the defeat of the Russian invasion. We need to create an environment where startups can flourish and new products can move quickly into mass production. Innovation must be tailored to the military’s unique needs, with the expertise and state support readily available to turn great ideas into military value.
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That was the thinking behind the Brave1 defense tech cluster launched in Ukraine at the end of April. A joint initiative of Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation, Ministry of Defense, General Staff, National Security and Defense Council, Ministry of Strategic Industries and Ministry of Economy, Brave1 is designed to serve as a hub for the country’s defense technology industry. It is a platform for facilitating cooperation between individual defense technology companies, the state, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, investors and other partners.
The scope of Brave1 is necessarily wide. Ukraine is looking to introduce new developments in defense-related technology sectors, including supply and logistics, unmanned aerial vehicles, cyber security, navigation and medical care. We have designed the initiative based on international experience, although in the end, we have a unique Ukrainian history. Brave1 includes partner accelerators and incubators, investor engagement opportunities and educational courses.
The Brave1 Defense Innovation Council is led by Mark Lennon, a senior Apple executive with over two decades of technology industry experience, including in the defense sector. Its history and credibility allow Brave1 to be a powerful platform capable of generating war-winning technologies. It will also help to raise international awareness of Ukrainian innovations and attract the attention of the world’s leading technology companies.
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His long-term goal is clear: Ukraine must become one of the world’s leading defense technology nations. This is completely subjective. After all, Ukraine is gaining unique war experience every day and boasts a large number of highly skilled IT professionals and engineers. Moscow’s all-out occupation has made Ukraine a testing ground for new military technologies. It is transforming the country into a defense technology superpower.
This process can have a significant impact on Ukraine’s national security and the country’s economy. I am sure that in the coming years we will witness the creation of powerful Ukrainian defense technology companies worth billions of dollars. The development of this sector will play an important role in Ukraine’s defense policy for decades and will remain a high national priority.
All ahead. The task now is to defeat Russia. The war started by Vladimir Putin is unlikely to end anytime soon. Instead, it should be seen as a marathon. Ukrainians should be ready to fight for a long time. As technologically advanced innovators, we must play to our strengths, and do everything we can to maximize effective collaboration between creative minds, government agencies, and the military. Ukrainians have already demonstrated to an international audience that they are the bravest fighters on the planet. Now they have to prove that they are among the smartest.
Mykhailo Fedorov is Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation and Deputy Prime Minister of Innovation and Education Development.
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Image: Ukrainian Navy during FPV-drone flight training, in response to Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine May 15, 2023. (Reuters/Sofia Gatilova)
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