Ukraine is investing almost UAH 1 billion in the production of Ukrainian-made explosives.
This was announced by Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
According to him, the Brave1 cluster has summed up the results of its first grant competition for explosives production. Six Ukrainian companies will receive funding.
Each of them will be able to produce at least 7 tonnes of explosives per month, with the possibility of further scaling up.
Fedorov noted that there is currently a global shortage of explosives. For Ukraine, this is critically important, as they are needed for the production of ammunition, drones and other strike systems.
The total cost of the projects is UAH 944 million, of which UAH 620 million is state co-financing.
According to the minister, this involves new production lines, new capabilities and critically important components for Ukrainian weapons.
He stressed that this should become the foundation for increasing the production of Ukrainian ammunition, missiles, drones and other strike systems.
Fedorov also said that over the past three years, Brave1 has issued nearly 1,000 grants worth more than UAH 5.8 billion and has become the largest venture defense tech investor in Europe.
Today, the Brave1 ecosystem brings together more than 2,500 companies, over 5,000 defense developments, military personnel, engineers, manufacturers, investors and the state.
According to the minister, Ukraine has for the first time built a full cycle for the development of defense innovations — from analyzing frontline needs and identifying promising technologies to financing, testing, codification, state procurement and scaling.
Fedorov noted that explosives production is only one of the areas of investment.
Other priorities include robotizing the front line to save soldiers’ lives, creating low-cost cruise missiles using artificial intelligence technologies, affordable Ukrainian radars for a small air defense system, as well as developing directed-energy weapons, including laser air defense, which is already undergoing testing.
The minister also announced an update to the Brave1 grant program. It has added 53 new technological priorities — from materials and components for missiles, swarm systems and autonomous drones to precision ammunition, underwater drones, electronic warfare against guided aerial bombs and missiles, laser weapons and other areas.
Ukrainian developers can receive from UAH 500,000 to UAH 8 million to develop their technologies.
Ukraine is also launching a special grant program within BraveTech EU to develop breakthrough defense technologies.
A separate area will be Brave Prime, which opens a new format of cooperation with global leaders in the defense industry. SAAB and Airbus became the first partners.
According to Fedorov, the next step is to give Ukrainian manufacturers access to the global market, attract more investment, increase production capabilities and scale Ukrainian technologies.
