Ukraine launched a new program giving foreign defense companies the chance to test their technologies directly on the front lines against Russian forces. The initiative, called “Test in Ukraine,” is managed by Brave1, the Ukrainian state-backed defense technology cluster often compared to the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
Unlike DARPA’s longer development timelines, Brave1 emphasizes speed, seeking to field innovations in weeks rather than years. The cluster started supporting Ukrainian defense startups in 2023 but expanded its efforts in mid-2025 as Russia’s full-scale war dragged into its fourth year.
Strong interest from foreign firms
Since its July launch, Brave1 says it has received 45 applications from foreign firms, with about one new applicant each day. Most interest comes from manufacturers of drones, communications and navigation systems, as well as companies producing electronic warfare tools, laser weapons, missiles and artificial intelligence systems.
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During a defense expo in Lviv, Brave1 head Andriy Hrytseniuk explained the appeal: “In Ukraine, everything happens much faster. You don’t have to wait for months for testing, and feedback from technical and military experts comes almost instantly. It gives foreign companies a unique opportunity not just to test the product, but to get real feedback and improve the technology in the shortest time.”
How it works
Companies participating in the program have two options:
- Send their own personnel to Ukraine to conduct field tests, or
- Train Ukrainian soldiers to operate the systems and report back on performance.
To make the process easier for international startups, Brave1 published a detailed manual explaining import procedures, testing protocols, and what happens if equipment is damaged or destroyed. Firms can choose to donate damaged gear to Ukraine or retrieve it after testing.
Technology priorities
Brave1 outlined its top priorities for battlefield trials, including:
- Unmanned ground, aerial and naval systems
- Counter-drone technologies such as directed-energy weapons and missile interceptors
- Advanced cyber capabilities, including AI-driven fire control for artillery
- New air defense systems and solutions to counter Russian glide bombs
According to Artem Moroz, Brave1’s head of investor relations, the program benefits both sides. “It gives us understanding of what technologies are available,” Moroz said. “It gives companies understanding of what is really working on the front line.”
A defense industry driven by innovation
Ukraine is betting big on foreign investment to strengthen its defensive industrial base. Kyiv already has major agreements with European firms like Rheinmetall, but officials stress battlefield innovations from smaller startups are just as important.
First Deputy Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov framed the program as battlefield-driven research and development. “Ukraine creates innovations quickly, massively, and efficiently. We’re changing and evolving every day — it is R&D on the battlefield,” he wrote on his Telegram channel.
Hrytseniuk said the initiative is not only about Ukraine’s survival, but also Europe’s security. “No one knows when the war can cross EU borders, so our common mission is to be as prepared as possible today,” he said.
By opening its battlefields to real-time testing, Ukraine hopes to accelerate innovation, attract investment, and give its outgunned military a fighting edge against Russia’s larger force.
