Sergiy Boyev has called on the countries involved in the Ramstein format to invest in Ukraine's defense industry
Sergiy Boyev, Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine for European Integration, spoke at a meeting of national armaments directors from the member states of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (Ramstein format). The meeting took place at NATO Headquarters in Brussels.
In the face of russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine's defense industry has increased its production by over twentyfold, though it still requires further investment and the development of joint ventures.
“The defense industry in Ukraine is operating below its full capacity, facing shortages in funding for its capabilities. Nevertheless, in 2023-2024 alone, Ukrainian production saw a threefold increase in artillery systems, fivefold in armored personnel carriers, twofold in anti-tank weapons, and a 2.5-fold increase in ammunition. Ukraine has the capacity to produce over 4 million UAVs annually, provided full funding for production,” noted Sergiy Boyev.
The Deputy Minister emphasized the importance of scaling up and accelerating the production of equipment and ammunition. He also stressed the significance of Ukraine's combat experience in driving innovation and technological advancements in existing equipment.
“Ammunition remains the top priority, even with the increase in production. Air defense, heavy machinery, and engineering equipment are potential products of joint industrial facilities,” said Sergiy Boyev.
He also highlighted that utilizing the revenues from frozen russian assets could serve as an additional resource for the Ukrainian defense industry and joint ventures.
Furthermore, the localization of enterprises engaged in the repair of equipment transferred by partners is becoming increasingly urgent. This would significantly streamline the logistics chain and save funds that could be redirected as needed.
Sergiy Boyev also emphasized that weapons jointly produced and tested on the battlefield can be exported to partners after the war ends.
Tags
- International cooperation
- Weapons and equipment