Airbus Defence and Space has signed an agreement with Brave1, the Ukrainian government’s defense systems coordination platform, to expand cooperation on the development and testing of new military technologies.
Created to connect government ministries, the armed forces, and private industry, Brave1 helps accelerate the development of defense technologies from research and prototyping to operational deployment.
Under the deal, the two sides will establish joint working groups to support projects ranging from early-stage research to equipment upgrades already in service.
Airbus technologies will also be tested through Brave1’s “Test in Ukraine” program, which allows systems to be evaluated in operational conditions and provides battlefield feedback to support further development and refinement.
As part of the cooperation, Airbus will also participate as a partner in the Defence Tech Valley summit in Lviv, western Ukraine, an event focused on defense innovation and emerging military technologies.
“In Ukraine, research and development cycles are measured not in months or years, but in days,” said Iryna Zabolotna, COO of Brave1.
“Partnering with a global leader like Airbus allows us to combine their decades of deep aerospace expertise with our agile, combat-tested R&D approach.”
Expanding Defense Tech Cooperation
European countries are increasingly looking to Ukraine’s wartime experience to guide the development and testing of new defense technologies.
In June, Kyiv approved the Brave International framework to support joint defense technology development with partner countries, including NATO members Norway, France, Germany, and Lithuania.
The initiative includes more than 100 million euros ($114 million) in grants and other support measures to accelerate the development of new capabilities and strengthen cooperation with international partners.
In April, the European Commission launched the BraveTech EU initiative, introducing a 35-million-euro ($40.9-million) testing platform to evaluate new military technologies under conditions that replicate the Ukrainian battlefield.
