Foreign defense companies that have received permission can evaluate their technologies at the testing ground under conditions close to combat.
More and more Western defense companies are eager to test their technologies in Ukraine. It is there that drones, robots, and electronic warfare systems can undergo combat testing almost as quickly as they are created, writes Business Insider.
It is noted that last summer the "Test in Ukraine" program was launched, allowing Western defense companies to import their products into Ukraine and test them in real combat conditions, as well as receive feedback from Ukrainian military personnel.
"Currently, dozens of companies are testing their systems in Ukraine, including on the battlefield. And the number of companies is growing," said Andriy Hrytsenko, CEO of the Ukrainian innovation platform Brave1, to journalists.
He noted that Ukraine has become the largest testing ground for unmanned technology and has accumulated advanced experience in robotics and autonomous systems since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion.
Hrytsenko told journalists that foreign defense companies that have received permission can evaluate their technologies at the testing ground under conditions close to combat, either independently or by delegating the testing to Ukraine. Ukrainian soldiers provide their feedback and suggestions.
The publication shared that one of the companies participating in the "Test in Ukraine" program is the British startup Occam Industries. It develops AI-based software for drones.
According to a company representative, participation in the program revealed that the software from Occam Industries worked during early tests, but the equipment it was installed on was not suitable for use on the front lines. Now, however, the company's software is being used on Ukrainian-made drones and is being sent to the battlefield.
Not all companies are ready to operate in Ukrainian realities
The publication emphasized that for many Western defense companies, the main problem lies not only in gaining access to modern warfare methods but also in keeping pace with rapid technological evolution.
First Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksii Yevstafiyev stated in a conversation with journalists that while more and more Western companies are eager to test their products in Ukraine, many of them are still not set up for speed. According to him, Ukrainian drones are often updated every three months before being sent back into combat, while many Western companies operate on slower development cycles.
Yevstafiyev emphasized that far from all Western companies are ready to work in Ukrainian realities. He said that only one Western company comes to mind that matches Ukraine's development pace.
"Most companies take a long time to develop a drone," he told journalists.
The publication added that many Western defense companies are not driven by the same military urgency as Ukraine. Some companies conduct tests in Ukraine but spend many months refining their products, risking obsolescence.
According to Yevstafiyev, Western companies should have their permanent representatives in Ukraine if they want to understand what soldiers need and how quickly those needs change.
Ukrainian drones are changing geopolitics
Earlier, columnist Melik Kaylan wrote in his article for Forbes that Ukraine is gradually strengthening its international influence and expanding cooperation with other states through the development of drone technologies and experience in modern warfare.
The author noted that after the onset of full-scale war, Ukraine was forced to rapidly develop its own technologies and military solutions due to limited volumes of external assistance. In his opinion, this allowed Kyiv to shift from a defensive model to more active international engagement.
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