Ukraine aims to become Europe's leading weapon manufacturer, focusing on missile production
Minister of Strategic Industries Oleksandr Kamyshin (Photo: Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
In a recent interview with PAP, Oleksandr Kamyshin, the Minister of Strategic Industries of Ukraine, unveiled the country's ambition to become the largest arms producer in Europe, with special emphasis on missile manufacturing.
"We envision Ukraine as a free world's arsenal and an expert in conventional warfare. Our goal is for our nation to become the foremost arms manufacturer in Europe," Kamyshin asserted.
While celebrating the early achievements in the defense industry, Kamyshin refrained from disclosing specific details but highlighted a major focus on missile production.
Regarding the current production capacities of the Ukrainian defense industry, the minister did not provide exact figures but stated that they had grown twofold over the past month.
Kamyshin also mentioned that the Ministry of Strategic Industries is a co-founder of the Brave 1 project, which fosters cooperation among all participants in the Ukrainian defense industry. The project offers informational, organizational, and financial support for ventures in the realm of defense technologies.
The minister explained that Brave 1 aims to expedite the journey from an idea to a contract with Ukraine's Ministry of Defense. Additionally, the project seeks to attract foreign investors.
"If foreign manufacturers choose to produce their equipment in Ukraine during wartime, they will have the opportunity to test their products on the battlefield. This, in turn, will enable them to modernize their offerings. I believe any weapon following this path will find buyers not only in Ukraine," Kamyshin stated.
Weapon production in Ukraine has been a top priority for the country's President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who expressed the nation's determination to elevate its defense industry to a level where it can manufacture Western-standard weaponry domestically.
Furthermore, Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov confirmed that Ukraine had officially approved a missile program, with funds allocated from the budget. This move is expected to enable the production of domestically manufactured missiles with a range of up to 1000 kilometers.
In June, Ukraine reported a significant increase in the production of mortar and artillery shells, surpassing the output of the entire previous year, according to Kamyshin.
