Ukraine сan now purchase weapons through NATO: Details
Photo: Defense Minister of Ukraine Yevhen Khmara (Ministry of Defense Press Office)
For the first time, Ukraine will have the opportunity to procure military equipment through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA). According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara signed the corresponding Security Cooperation Support Partnership (SCSP) agreement on October 14.
The cooperation agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the NATO Support and Procurement Organization (NSPO) provides for a Security Cooperation Support Partnership (SCSP).
This will enable the Ukrainian defense industry to both receive and provide services through the agency. The Cabinet of Ministers approved the draft agreement on August 13, 2026, and Khmara signed it on October 14.
The partnership was established to provide stable and long-term support to Ukraine. It will allow for the consolidation of requests for assistance from Ukraine, capability coalitions, and other NATO structures, as well as the use of the agency's existing procurement and supply mechanisms. The agreement was developed so that Ukraine could join the Partnership, communicate its needs, and carry out defense procurement.
Deputy Minister of Defense Mstyslav Banik notes that Ukraine is the first and only country, and a non-NATO member, for which a separate Partnership has been created as a single point of entry to the Agency's operations. Ukrainian industry has also been granted broad access to NSPA tenders. According to him, this expands Ukraine's access to NATO markets through verified suppliers.
What agreement entails and what manufacturers will gain
Through its participation in the SCSP, Ukraine will potentially be able to leverage the opportunities offered by 45 NSPA partnerships. These cover various weapons systems and provide for their procurement, maintenance, and support throughout their entire life cycle. The agreement provides for:
- Faster procurement for the Defense Forces' needs: Ukraine's requests will be processed through existing NSPA contracts or by entering into new ones. For a new contract, the NSPA may issue a tender in accordance with Ukraine's needs, with both foreign and Ukrainian companies participating simultaneously;
- More favorable terms: the NSPA will be able to combine Ukraine's needs with those of other countries, and consolidated orders strengthen negotiating positions and allow for better prices;
- More flexible procedures: To expedite procurement and delivery, the Agency will be able to adapt standard mechanisms to Ukraine's needs;
- Multiple funding sources: Procurements will be funded from Ukraine's state budget, by international partners, or through co-financing.
A separate focus is on involving Ukrainian defense companies. Manufacturers will be able to register in the Agency's supplier database, submit proposals, participate in tenders on an equal footing with foreign companies, and enter into contracts with the NSPA. This mechanism is set to be in place for five years, beginning in April 2025.
Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Hvozdiar emphasizes that this is a partnership from which both sides will benefit. According to her, Ukraine wants its partners to gain access to the expertise and technologies of the Ukrainian defense industry, while manufacturers will gain access to new opportunities for cooperation.
The signing of the agreement was announced on October 14 during the NSPA Industry Outreach Event, which the Ministry of Defense organized in collaboration with the Agency. The event brought together approximately 150 representatives of Ukrainian defense industry companies. Manufacturers were briefed on registering in the NSPA system, preparing and submitting proposals, participating in tender procedures, and supplier requirements.
Jacqueline Borsboom, NSPA Director of Operations Support, notes that the partnership will help deepen the integration of Ukrainian industry and enable allies and partners to learn from Ukraine's experience with innovations proven in combat conditions.
Read also: Ukraine authorized to buy arms through NATO's procurement agency — Financial Times
The topic of Ukraine's industrial cooperation with foreign partners was also discussed at a conference and meeting between delegations from the Ukrainian and German defense industries. Serhii Pashynskyi, Chairman of NAUDI, stated there that the association's strategy was to seek partners for cooperation and the joint development of new types of weapons. According to him, over the past three years, NAUDI has evolved from presentations and exhibitions to projects worth hundreds of millions of euros that are already operational.
At the same conference, Reiner Perau, president of the German-Ukrainian Chamber of Industry and Commerce (AHK), told RBC-Ukraine that a sense of urgency has emerged within the German military and political circles.
