After the start of a full-scale war, Ukraine is gradually resuming the export of defense products and could export military goods and services worth several billion dollars by 2025. This was stated by Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, David Aloyan, in an interview with Reuters.
According to him, at the beginning of the month, the state commission, which is responsible for issuing export licenses during martial law, approved the majority of 40 applications from defense sector enterprises. These are for the export of finished products, components, spare parts, and the provision of services.
Aloyan clarified that the potential volume of such supplies could amount to several billion dollars, but stressed that first of all, the needs of the Ukrainian Defense Forces must be fully met. According to him, a rapid export boom is not expected, as domestic military tasks remain the priority.
Among the countries that have already expressed interest in Ukrainian defense technologies, Aloyan named Germany, Great Britain, the United States, Scandinavian countries, several Middle Eastern countries, and at least one Asian country. One of the Middle Eastern countries, which has a long history of cooperation with Ukraine in the defense sector, is currently studying the possibility of purchasing drones and heavy equipment.
The NSDC representative emphasized that Kyiv will give priority to exports to states that are Ukraine's most active allies in the war against Russia. At the same time, the emphasis is not only on the sale of finished products, but also on the creation of joint ventures with foreign partners. This format of cooperation should ensure the inflow of investments, expansion of production capacities, new supply chains and access to modern technologies.
Aloyan also said that the government is considering introducing an export tax for defense manufacturers. According to him, such a mechanism would allow additional revenues to be directed to financing the Ukrainian army.
At the same time, he noted that among the already approved applications there are no permits for the export of combat-ready weapons. Most of the approved operations concern reimport or the supply of components for further use at the front.
Some of the applications are related to the Ukrainian-American FrankenSAM program, within the framework of which modernized anti-aircraft missile systems are being created by combining Soviet systems with Western missiles.
Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that ten export centers for the promotion and production of Ukrainian defense technologies should be operational in European countries in 2026. In the near future, production facilities are expected to be launched in Germany, where they plan to begin producing Ukrainian drones in mid-February.
Thus, Ukraine is gradually forming a new model of defense cooperation that combines its own military needs with export potential and international partnership.
