Rheinmetall expects Ukraine's miltech industry to expand after war
Photo: Oleksandr Kulakovskyi (center) (Vasyl Churikov)
After the war ends, Ukraine will be able to export not only defense technologies and products but also the experience and expertise gained during the war. Rheinmetall expects Ukrainian miltech to continue expanding into global markets, Oleksandr Kulakovskyi, head of the Digital Systems division’s representative office at the German defense concern Rheinmetall, said in a comment to RBC-Ukraine.
Europe is interested in Ukraine’s experience
According to Kulakovskyi, Europe now sees Ukraine as one of the most valuable providers not only of technologies and products but also of experience gained during the war.
He noted that Ukraine has paid the highest price for this experience.
"Europe understands this, and European companies are increasing their presence and activity in Ukraine," Kulakovskyi said.
He also said that, in his personal view, Rheinmetall is the most flexible and fastest among the major European defense concerns that were among the first to enter the Ukrainian market. According to him, the company has a joint venture in Ukraine, is expanding the presence of its divisions and supports Ukraine.
Ukrainian miltech could export its experience
Kulakovskyi said that after the war ends, the accumulated experience, technologies, and tactics for deploying them will be shared worldwide.
In his view, Ukraine should maximize the monetization of this experience.
"This is the most valuable resource we can offer right now. Unfortunately, we had no choice. We are gaining it against our will, but what can you do?" the Rheinmetall representative said.
He expects Ukrainian miltech to expand into foreign markets after the war.
"Of course, there will be expansion from Ukraine, there will be exports of experience, expertise and technologies. I hope that will happen," Kulakovskyi said.
Ukrainian specialists could become world-class experts
The Rheinmetall representative compared the prospects for Ukraine’s defense sector with the development of its IT industry. According to him, in peacetime, Ukraine held a leading position in IT, and Ukrainian developers were considered among the best.
"And just like now, our specialists in the defense sector are among the best in the world," Kulakovskyi said.
The Rheinmetall representative stressed that IT in modern warfare encompasses information systems, unmanned technologies and the technological component as a whole. In his view, Ukrainian specialists working in these fields could become world-class experts thanks to their wartime experience.
"I think our specialists will become world-class experts who have been through a war and know how it is fought and how to survive," Kulakovskyi said.
