Ukraine is opening up exports of its domestically produced arms to Europe, President Volodymyr Zelensky said — as Kyiv looks to capitalize on its wartime technology boom.
The arms race in Ukraine has created many weapons firms that are producing more arms than Kyiv can buy, leading Zelensky to announce Sunday that 10 “export centers” will open across Europe this year to raise much-needed funds for his country.
The Ukrainian president noted that Ukraine’s advanced drones, which have proven successful against Russia’s military, will also be up for sale as European nations begin to increase their defense spending.
“Today, Europe’s security is built on technology and drones,” Zelensky said, touting Kyiv’s advanced UAV development.
Ihor Fedirko, CEO of the Ukrainian Council of Defense Industry, said international buyers have been clamoring for not just Kyiv’s drones, but also its anti-drone technology.
UAVs have proven to be the dominant force in combat in the Ukraine war, with both Moscow and Kyiv using the drones to conduct mass, long-distance attacks.
Many experts have warned that the war is a snapshot of what modern wars will look like, with many nations taking an interest in combat drones and drone jamming systems.
Fedirko said the strongest buzz has been around Ukraine’s seaborne drones, UAVs used to drop small bombs on targets, interceptor drones, and drones that use fiber-optic cables that allow them to fly without fear of jamming.
President Trump had expressed a great interest in Ukraine’s drones as part of last year’s drone “mega deal” negotiations, which would see the US buy up Kyiv’s UAVs in exchange for the sale of the American arms Ukraine desperately needs.
Even though Ukraine’s 2025 budget had allocated $18 billion for domestically produced drones, it is still not enough to buy up all the UAVs being produced in the country.
Some of Ukraine’s drone developers had previously expressed frustration with the rules restricting expenditures and putting a cap on profits, but opening up exports would allow the firms to expand and continue improving their arms.
Ukrainian drone production is set to start in Germany in mid-February, Zelensky said, with the UAVs already being built in the UK under a joint initiative.
“Today, we have 450 companies that manufacture drones, 40 to 50 of them are top-tier,” Zelensky boasted on Sunday. “Everyone wants to invest.
“[This] year — 2026 — will be the year of investment in our technologies, above all drones,” he added.
https://nypost.com/2026/02/09/world-news/ukraine-opens-arms-sales-to-cash-in-on-wartime-tech-boom/
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