Ukraine’s weapons makers want to sell arms abroad and argue it will help, not hurt, the fight against Russia
A Ukrainian serviceman of the 57th Kost Hordiienko Separate Motorised Infantry Brigade fires a 2S22 Bohdana self-propelled howitzer towards Russian troops, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, at a position near the city of Bakhmut in Donetsk region, Ukraine July 5, 2023.REUTERS/Sofiia GatilovaUkraine's defense industry wants to be able to export abroad because it can make more than the country can buy.Ukraine is at war, but industry says exports will unlock the kind of production it needs.Efficient production at scale could mean lower costs.Ukraine's defense industry is pushing for the right to export some of its weaponry, arguing that selling arms abroad would help — not harm — the country's war effort.Since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine has effectively frozen international arms exports, tightening approval rules to make sure every available shell, drone, and missile stayed in Ukraine. Industry leaders say it's so restrictive that exporting is practicallyUkraine's defense industry has been booming as it equips the country's forces for war. Ukrainian companies now churn out drones, missiles, artillery systems, and ammunition at a pace unseen before the war. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that 30% of the equipment used last year was made at home, and he wants that figure to reach 50% by the end of 2025.At first glance, exports might seem counterintuitive or risky while Ukraine is fighting a larger adversary and struggling with uncertain Western support. But industry leaders argue that exports would expand production, lower costs, and strengthen Ukraine's defense base.Serhiy Goncharov, CEO of the National Association of Ukrainian Defense Industries (NAUDI), which represents about 100 companies, said that "the export of some part of military production wouldn't harm the defense of Ukraine," arguing instead that "it would increase the potential of the defense of Ukraine."Unlocking production potentialUkrainian firms say they can make far more weapons than the government can afford to buy. Goncharov said production capacity is more than three times larger than the state defense budget, but it isn't able to tap into that. He said artificial limits on the defense sector raise costs and hinder research.A Ukrainian fiber-optic drone is seen during a test flight in the Kyiv region in December 2024.Photo by Viktor Fridshon/Global Images Ukraine via Getty ImagesWestern programs aimed at boosting Ukrainian production are welcome but fall far short of filling the gap, he added.Some companies say they have big international demand and are ready to export immediately if restrictions are lifted. Some companies are promoting their gear abroad, ready for the day they can sell it. Their view is that exports will boost overall output, helping Ukraine rather than hurting it in its fight against Russia while also boosting the health of the defense indu
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