The defence industry of Ukraine is a strategically important sector and one of country's largest employers. Before the start of the Russo-Ukrainian War, the industry was oriented mainly toward exports. A near-total export ban was imposed after the outbreak of the full-scale invasion in 2022, redirecting nearly all domestic output to the front.
In September 2025, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that controlled exports of surplus arms would be permitted to allow greater financing of arms needed at the frontlines.
In February 2026, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine announced that its planning to issue the first licences for controlled exports of surplus weapons to a government-approved list of partner states. According to the Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Davyd Aloian, in February 2026 the state commission responsible for issuing the relevant licenses in wartime approved most of the 40 applications submitted by defence industry enterprises to export equipment and services.
Ukraine has become a world leader in the mass production of unmanned systems — with about 3 million produced in 2025, as well as plans to produce up to 8 million FPV drones annually — though it continues to rely on Western-supplied systems, such as Patriot, for defence against hypersonic and ballistic missiles.
Products
Drones
Before 2014 and the spark of the Russo-Ukrainian War, Ukraine had lacked modern UAVs and relied upon outdated Soviet models such as the Tupolev Tu-141 and Tu-143. After 2014, there became a surge in the development of UAVs from private organizations such as Athlon Avia and Aerorozvidka who developed the A1-CM Furia and R18 respectively, however the research and development into drone warfare was slowed by the bureaucratic defence procurement system which limited investment and slowed production.
In 2022, after the Russian invasion, Ukraine expanded its production of drones and began to produce a wide variety of drones, mainly UAVs but also sea drones and ground drones en masse to counter the Russian onslaught. Civilian workshops were established all over Ukraine, often in home garages or kitchens and under programs such as the People's FPV and SocialDrone UA, where participants are given instructions on how to source parts and assemble drones. Non-profits such as the Wild Hornets and Escadrone have been established to fabricate and deliver large amounts of combat and support drones to the armed forces. By 2023, over 200 Ukrainian companies were involved in the drone sector, with many securing state contracts. By the end of 2024 it was estimated that 96% of all unmanned aerial vehicles used by the military were domestically manufactured in Ukraine. As of 2025 the industry is dependent on Chinese components.
Notable drones include:
The Sting is the main interceptor of long range drones. It has autonomous AI & a Claymore-style directional fragmentation charge. The Palianytsia turbojet missile-drone dubbed a "new class of weaponry" by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and unveiled on Ukraine's Independence Day. The Baba Yaga classed heavy bomber drones, which can also deliver supplies and serve as a "mother ship" for smaller drones. Several models are referred to as Baba Yaga including Aerorozvidka's R18 as well as Khazan, Nemesis, and Vampire drones. The Liutyi is the main long-range one-way attack drone. It was developed by Ukroboronprom in late 2022 and first used in 2023. Often described as Ukraine's domestic equivalent to the Shahed 131 drones, the Liutyi is often used alongside other drones to attack military and energy infrastructure within Russia. The AIR Pro is the main interceptor of anti-personnel drones. It has autonomous AI. It isn't spool-fed. It has a Claymore-style directional fragmentation charge & loiters for 35 minutes. The Molfar is the main anti-personnel, fiber optic, jink & final mile AI, FPV drone. It's 10 inches long, carries a 4 kg payload & has a 25 km range. It's evasive maneuvers jink interceptor swarms by side diving, using turning gambits & then outclimbing interceptors. The Dragon drone which are developed as incendiary drones and designed to spray molten thermite to destroy potential obstructions and cover. The first documented use was in August 2024. The MAGURA V5 unmanned surface vehicle which was introduced in 2023 and can serve multiple roles including reconnaissance, kamikaze attacks on ships, and as an anti-aircraft platform. Since 2024, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have used hardware and software developed by the Ukrainian-Estonian company Farsight Vision for drones. Its FSV Platform transforms drone footage into 3D terrain models—including media captured in electronic warfare environments—for use in battlefield intelligence and situational awareness platforms.
A number of drone models serve as primary consumable ordinance for tactical operations. The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) utilize a tiered procurement strategy, balancing high‑volume acquisition of tactical strike units with specialized, small‑batch production of advanced, mission‑tailored platforms. The AFU also maintains a “boutique” production line for dedicated drone platforms with purpose-built drone designs and deliberately low monthly output levels prior to large‑scale industrial expansion.
Ground robotic systems have also grown into a major category in their own. By mid-2026, around 280 Ukrainian companies were producing more than 550 distinct models of unmanned ground vehicles, used for casualty evacuation, logistics resupply, demining, and direct-fire support; ground robots were carrying out more than 10,000 logistics missions per month by April 2026, and the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine set a target of producing 50,000 ground drones over the course of the year.
Ammunition 125mm tank shells, as well as 122mm, 152mm, and 155mm artillery shells are in mass production
Small-arms bullet cartridges re-entered production in 2024, with 5.45×39mm and 5.56×45mm ammunition being produced for the first time since 2014, after the Russian seizure of the Luhansk Ammunition Plant had crippled Ukraine's domestic bullet-making capacity.
Full-cycle domestic production of NATO-standard 155mm shells began in 2025 under a licensing agreement between the Ukrainian company and the Czech manufacturer Czechoslovak Group, covering shell-casing manufacture, explosive filling, and final assembly; the partners targeted annual output of around 300,000 shells by 2026.
Structure
Ukraine's defence industry is organized around Ukroboronprom, a state-owned conglomerate of over 130 companies. These companies include Soviet era giants such as Ivchenko-Progress aircraft design bureau that was opened in 1945, to newer companies such as RPC Fort which came into existence in the 1990s.
In August 2018, the Groysman government simplified the procedure for granting economic entities the right to export and import military goods and goods that contain data that constitute a state secret. This opened the market for private defence companies, which previously could only work with foreign clients through a state-owned company.
In October 2018, speaking at the Atlantic Council in Washington, US Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker said that the United States had lifted the arms embargo on Ukraine. This gave a boost to the international cooperation and development of private companies.
On 22 July 2020, the new government ministry Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine was established to aid and develop Ukraine's defence industry.Government backs creation of ministry for strategic industries, Ukrinform (22 July 2020) A new ministry has appeared in Ukraine, Ukrayinska Pravda (22 July 2020)
Major manufacturers
Aircraft See: Antonov (Kyiv) Antonov Serial Production Plant (Kyiv) Kyiv Aircraft Repair Plant 410 (Kyiv) (Kharkiv) General Aviation Design Bureau of Ukraine (Kyiv)
(Konotop)
Armored vehicles, automotive, and special engineering equipment Kharkiv Factory of Transportation Machine-building of Malyshev (Kharkiv) Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau (Kharkiv)
Kremenchuk Automobile Plant KrAZ (Kremenchuk)
Engine Motor-Sich (Zaporizhzhia) Ivchenko-Progress (Zaporizhzhia) Zorya-Mashproekt (Mykolaiv)
Shipbuilding
An indicates that the city is located in Russian occupied Crimea. Ukraine rejects Russia's annexation of Crimea as does the majority of sovereign states in the world, but Russia has had de facto control over Crimea since 2014.
Azov Shipyard (Mariupol) State Research and Design Shipbuilding Center (Mykolaiv) Black Sea Shipyard (Mykolaiv) Kherson Shipyard (Kherson) Kuznya na Rybalskomu (Kyiv) Mykolayiv Shipyard (Mykolaiv) More (Feodosia*) Okean Shipyard (Mykolaiv) Sevastopol Shipyard (Sevastopol*) Zalyv (Kerch*)
Rocket Pivdenmash (Dnipro) Pivdenne Design Bureau (Kharkiv)
Electronics Luch Design Bureau
Infozahyst
Radiolocation
Artillery
Firearms RPC Fort (Vinnytsia)
Zbroyar
Protection gear Ukrainian Armor
Munition
Explosives
Optics Arsenal Factory
Other Khartron (Kharkiv) Farsight Vision
Exports In 2012, Ukraine's export-oriented arms industry had reached the status of world's 4th largest arms exporter. Since the start of the war in Donbas, Ukraine's military industry has focused more on its internal arms market and as a result slipped to the 9th spot among top global arms exporters by 2015, 11th spot by 2018, and the 12th spot among global arms exporters by 2019. In 2019, the main importers of Ukrainian weapons were India, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. As of February 2025, Ukraine is upholding its ban on the export of weapons due to the full-scale invasion, although it is expected for the ban to be lifted in 2025.
History
Some Soviet ICBMs were actually built at the Yuzhmash plant in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro.Putin Screwed Up – Ukraine built about 600 of Russia's ICBMs carrying about 5000 nuclear bombs and Ukraine can Give Codes to NATO and Cripple Russia's Nuclear Capability | Brian Wang | May 15, 2014 Russia's only aircraft carrier was also built in the Ukrainian SSR, as well as a number of other Russian military ships.
From 1992 to 1996, 113 Ukrainian enterprises were engaged in dual-use goods, including weapons. The lack of clear legislation resulted in an arms market where everyone earned whatever however they could, including in illegal schemes. The state took control of Ukraine's defence industry in October 1996 under the company Ukrspetsexport.
From 1992 to 2014, Ukrainian military exports mainly fell into three categories: new or used equipment, joint development, and maintenance of Soviet-made machinery and equipment. Ukrainian weapons. What Ukraine sells and buys in the arms market, Ukrayinska Pravda (28 October 2020) The output of Ukrainian defence plants grew 58% in 2009, with largest growth reported by aircraft builders (77%) and ship builders (71%).Ukraine may become world's sixth biggest arms trader [Kyiv Post] Until 2011, the first place for Ukraine in terms of profitability was the sale of aircraft and the provision of services for its modernization and repair. In second place was armored vehicles. In 2011 trade in armored vehicles (including the export of the T-84 Oplot to Thailand) replaced the military aviation export as most profitable military exports, and since then third place has traditionally been occupied by trade in air defense equipment. In 2012 (by far Ukraine's most successful year of arms export) Ukraine had the status of world's 4th largest arms exporter. In 2013 Ukraine's defense sector manufactured a total of 11.7 billion Ukrainian hryvnia (₴) worth of goods, ₴10 billion of which were exported. Prior to 2014 a major part of Ukraine's military business was the selling of Soviet-era stockpiles.