One billion for explosives, low-cost missiles, and agreements with Airbus and Saab: key takeaways from Brave1 Advantage
Ukraine's Defense technology cluster, Brave1, hosted the large-scale Brave1 Advantage event, unveiling Ukraine's first large-scale firepower expo featuring munitions, explosives, and missile systems, while also announcing strategic alliances with leading global defense companies.
Over its three years of operation, Brave1 has become Europe's largest defense-tech venture investor, providing nearly 1,000 grants totaling more than UAH 5.8 billion. Today, the cluster is setting a clear direction for Ukrainian innovators by focusing on battlefield robotics, artificial intelligence, and weapons based on new physical principles.
We are now placing our strongest emphasis on battlefield robotics to help save the lives of service members, as well as on the development of low-cost cruise missiles incorporating artificial intelligence, affordable Ukrainian-made radars for lower-tier air defense, and directed-energy weapons, including laser air defense systems that are already undergoing testing.
Million-scale grant for domestic explosives
One of the key highlights of the event was the announcement of the results of the grant competition to expand the production of Ukrainian explosives. Six Ukrainian companies were selected as winners.
As noted by Minister of Defence Mykhailo Fedorov, the total value of the projects amounts to UAH 944 million, including UAH 620 million in government co-financing. Under the agreements, the manufacturers will produce explosives, including TNT, RDX, PETN, and plasticized explosives comparable to C-4.
Firepower showcase behind closed doors: from guided aerial bombs to laser air defense
As part of Brave1 Advantage, Ukraine hosted its first large-scale firepower expo, where more than 70 manufacturers of munitions and strike systems showcased their latest developments.
A special restricted-access area attracted considerable interest by showcasing the latest achievements in Ukraine's missile development, including:
- ballistic, cruise, and surface-to-air missiles;
- jet-powered drones;
- domestically developed glide bombs.
In addition, Ukrainian laser air defense systems and other directed-energy weapons are already undergoing testing.
53 new priorities: grants of up to UAH 8 million
In response to the rapidly evolving battlefield, Brave1, Ukraine's defense technology cluster, has updated its technology priorities at the direction of the Ministry of Defence by adding 53 new grant priority areas.
The battlefield is constantly evolving, so at Brave1 we must continuously adapt our grant programs to meet the Defence Forces' current needs. At the direction of the Minister of Defence, we have updated these programs to stay ahead of the enemy in every technological cycle. In cooperation with the military, we identified new priorities—technologies that can give Ukraine a real advantage on the battlefield. We encourage Ukrainian innovators and technology companies to apply for Brave1 grants.
Among the grant priorities are materials and components for missiles, swarming systems, autonomous drones, radar and navigation technologies, underwater drones and torpedoes, laser weapons, railguns, precision-guided munitions, electronic warfare (EW) systems against glide bombs and missiles, hyperspectral cameras, and other advanced technologies. Depending on the technology's maturity level, Ukrainian innovators can receive grants ranging from UAH 500,000 to UAH 8 million.
European integration and BraveTech EU special grants
The cluster also announced the launch of a new special grant program integrated with the European BraveTech EU initiative. Its key feature is the opportunity to receive up to UAH 8 million in funding regardless of the technology's current readiness level.
The program covers more than 40 technology areas, including:
- high-speed strike systems and automatic guidance modules for them;
- hand-launched interceptors and anti-bunker munitions;
- evacuation UAVs;
- exoskeletons and active protection systems (APS);
- lightweight torpedoes;
- electromagnetic pulse (EMP) munitions and EMP generation systems;
- hydrogen fuel cells.
For the full list of technology priorities, visit https://grants.brave1.tech/
Alliance with industry leaders: launching the Brave Prime platform
To integrate global defense industry leaders into Ukraine's defense innovation ecosystem, Brave1 has launched a new strategic initiative — Brave Prime. The initiative's primary objective is to establish a mechanism for integrating the world's leading defense companies into Ukraine's defense innovation ecosystem.
We work extensively with small and medium-sized companies. At the same time, we recognize that without prime contractors—and without the support of major industry players—we risk losing valuable knowledge and opportunities for Ukraine's defense innovation ecosystem.
The first milestone under this initiative was the signing of official agreements with defense industry leaders Airbus and Saab.
Plans through the end of 2026: major grant competitions for breakthrough technologies
The Ministry of Defence and Brave1 have also outlined their plans through the end of 2026. New grant competitions have been announced under which developers of breakthrough technologies will be eligible to receive more than UAH 100 million per project.
Funding will be directed towards capital-intensive and high-tech areas, including the development of UAV-launched missiles, systems for countering glide bombs, humanoid robots, domestically developed radars, microwave strike systems, and laser air defense systems.