Creation of the Ukrainian Defense and Security Industries Association

During the XIII International Specialized Exhibition “Arms and Security-2016”, leaders of several dozen Ukrainian enterprises and organizations — producers and developers of defense and dual-use products — decided to establish an Association.

As reported by Valentyn Badrak, Director of the Center for Army, Conversion, and Disarmament Research (CACDR), the CACDR and the Defence Express Information and Consulting Company expressed their readiness to join the Association as entities providing analytical, informational, and marketing support to its activities. Badrak emphasized that such an organization is extremely relevant, given that more than two-thirds of Ukraine’s defense and dual-use products are produced by private enterprises. At the same time, he noted that the Association is open to cooperation with state-owned enterprises and institutions.

Badrak stated that the goal of creating the Association is to unite efforts around common goals and values aimed at effective and high-quality provision of national security and defense, as well as the development of modern combat and operational capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Primarily, this involves reforming the former Soviet mechanisms and procedures in the domestic arms market to ensure equal rights for private and state enterprises, as well as creating conditions for investment in innovative developments and production of weapons and military equipment. Another key objective is the liberalization of foreign economic activities of Ukrainian defense industry enterprises.

To achieve these goals, the Association plans to work on modernizing national legislation, organizing close cooperation with domestic and international partners and organizations, and presenting the government with alternative opportunities for the development of Ukraine’s defense-industrial complex based on advanced Western experience.