What weapons are already being produced for the Armed Forces of Ukraine and what is planned to increase the number of such weapons
What achievements have already been made in the production of domestic weapons, and what our state can offer to Western defense companies
The press service of the Ministry of Strategic Industries said that on September 29, 2023, the First International Defense Industries Forum (DFNC1) was held in Kyiv. It is reported that the forum was organized by three ministries at once: the Ministry of Strategy and Industry, the Ministry of Defense, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Participants included 252 companies from more than 30 countries that produce the full range of weapons, such as tanks and artillery, drones and ammunition, software and other necessary technologies. Public and private defense companies and defense-tech startups also joined the event.
The main slogan and the main goal of DFNC1 was described as “building the arsenal of the free world together, because freedom needs strength to defend itself against tyranny.” But at the same time, from the announcement of this forum by the Ministry of Strategic Industries, we can also identify two important points: what types of weapons are currently being produced by the domestic military-industrial complex for our army, and what our state is ready to offer foreign arms manufacturers to make them even more interested in locating their facilities on our territory.
Regarding the former, the press service of the Ministry of Strategic Industries noted that Ukrainian enterprises already have 155 mm artillery systems, artillery shells and ammunition, anti-tank missile systems and “unique automated systems,” long-range drones, marine drones and missiles. And that at the same time, “the pace of development of Ukrainian production and Ukrainian technologies is constantly growing.”
As for the second point, it states that “a special economic regime will be introduced to increase the investment attractiveness of the Ukrainian defense industry”. The Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Strategy and Industry, and the Ministry of Defense are to develop this regime, and “a detailed plan will be presented by the end of the year.”
It is also noted that a special Defense Fund will be created, which will be operated by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. This Defense Fund is planned to be filled with dividends from defense companies and profits from the sale of confiscated Russian assets.
“The funds will be allocated in three areas: soldiers’ welfare, military infrastructure, and the development of new technologies. This will allow the Ministry of Defense to attract another source of funding – in addition to the state budget and private investment,” the Ministry of Strategic Industry explains the principle of operation of such a special fund.
Another important moment during DFNC1 was the creation of the Alliance of Defense Industries. It is noted that any manufacturer of weapons and military equipment from around the world can join this Alliance. By the time the Forum closed, 38 companies from 19 countries had already done so.
