On Wednesday, July 1, 2026, European company Airbus Defence and Space (part of the Airbus SE group) announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Brave1, the Ukrainian government defense technology innovation platform and cluster.
Photos: Airbus Defence and Space
Acting as a joint innovation platform for ministries, the military, and the private technology sector, Brave1 serves as the primary hub for the rapid deployment of cutting-edge battlefield technologies, from concept to combat fielding. This agreement marks Brave1’s first strategic industrial partnership with a Western company.
Brave1 was established on April 26, 2023, on the initiative of the Ukrainian Ministry of Digital Transformation, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Ministry of Strategic Industries, and the Ukrainian Ministry of Economy. Its purpose is to rapidly develop and deploy innovative military solutions, such as drones, electronic warfare systems, robots, and artificial intelligence systems, that can be fielded at the front within weeks rather than months or years.
As part of the cooperation, joint task forces have been established to implement technology projects, from initial research to military equipment modernization. To accelerate deployment, Airbus Defence and Space technologies will be directly integrated into Brave1’s Test in Ukraine program. This enables intensive, joint live testing on the front line and joint evaluation, including the transfer of operational performance data directly into the development loop to meet urgent security requirements. In addition, Airbus will be a key partner of the Defence Tech Valley 2026 exhibition in Lviv, one of Europe’s largest defense technology events, confirming its role as a key partner of Ukraine in Europe.
„As Brave1 celebrates three years of building Ukraine’s defence tech ecosystem, our mission is expanding from launching startups to forging global industrial alliances under our new ‘Brave Prime’ initiative,” said Iryna Zabolotna, COO of Brave1. „In Ukraine, research and development cycles are measured not in months or years, but in days. Partnering with a global leader like Airbus allows us to combine their decades of deep aerospace expertise with our agile, combat-tested R&D approach. Together, we are building faster, more resilient defence solutions for the future of European security.”
„Collaborating with Ukraine on defence means effectively working on Europe’s collective security,” said Jo Mueller, member of the Executive Committee of Airbus Defence and Space. „Being chosen by Brave1 to become a strategic partner in one of the world’s most advanced defence ecosystems means a lot to us. We are committed to supporting our partners with our comprehensive experience and skills in defence aerospace – while augmenting our future capabilities through the unique experience and talent of Ukrainian innovators.”
Airbus Defence and Space signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with @Brave1ua, Ukraine’s central government-led defence technology coordinator.
The collaboration establishes joint task forces to drive technological projects, ranging from initial scientific research to… pic.twitter.com/Wbsg4juH6e
— Airbus Defence (@AirbusDefence) July 1, 2026
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