Ukraine has taken a decisive step towards technological independence in the defense sector. Minister of Digital Transformation and Defense Mykhailo Fedorov announced the completion of the first grant competition of the Brave1 cluster, dedicated to the production of explosives. As part of the initiative, Ukrainian manufacturers will receive funding that will enable them to start producing critical components for ammunition and drones.
Investing in Sovereignty: Nearly a Billion Hryvnias
The total value of projects selected as a result of the competition amounts to 944 million hryvnias. A significant portion of this sum — 620 million hryvnias — has been allocated from the state budget as co-financing. According to Fedorov, the task is simple and clear: to defeat the enemy in every technological cycle, and the Brave1 cluster plays a key role in this.
There is an acute global shortage of explosives, making their production a matter of national security for Ukraine. Without this component, it is impossible to scale the production of ammunition, missiles, and munitions. New production lines will become the foundation for increasing the capacity of Ukraine's defense industry.
New Capacities and Scaling
As a result of the competition, six Ukrainian companies received funding. It is expected that each enterprise will be able to produce up to 7 tons of explosives monthly. This is only the first stage: in the future, production is planned to be scaled to meet the growing needs of the front.
Over three years of operation, Brave1 has become the largest venture investor in the field of defense technologies in Europe. During this time, nearly 1,000 grants have been issued totaling more than 5.8 billion hryvnias. The Minister cited speed as Ukraine's main competitive advantage: from idea to mass application on the front.
Global Ambitions and New Partners
The grant program is constantly evolving. The updated list of priorities includes 53 new technological directions. Developers can apply for support ranging from 500,000 to 8 million hryvnias. Additionally, a special BraveTech EU program is being launched to develop breakthrough technologies.
Special attention is paid to international cooperation. The Brave Prime direction is opening, aimed at combining efforts with global leaders in the defense industry. The first partners in this format are the SAAB and Airbus corporations. The next strategic step is for Ukrainian manufacturers to enter the global market and attract additional investments.
Technologies on the Front: From Bombs to Lasers
The Minister of Defense also reported on the practical application of new developments. The Armed Forces of Ukraine are already using domestic guided aerial bombs, which are supplied by two different developers. In parallel, active work is underway to strengthen air defense: laser systems and the latest interceptor drones are undergoing testing.
Ukraine is also working on direct contracts for the purchase of anti-ballistic missiles and developing its own analog of such systems. All these measures are aimed at creating and implementing the technologies necessary to protect the country as quickly as possible.
