“Ukraine was in a sense that a full -scale war began at a time when technological innovations were already available. Drones, robotic systems, digital intelligence – all this became the basis of our defense and allowed to compensate for the numerical advantage of the enemy.”, – WRITE: www.pravda.com.ua
It was technological solutions that have become a key factor that we were able to withstand the invasion in the first months, and later to continue the effective resistance even in this grueling war. Russia suffered severe losses when it was unable to adapt quickly to the new technological reality. That is why she has been actively involved in the arms race in the field of military robotics. And now we no longer have a stock of time – the cycle of technological advantage is no longer measured for years, but lasts only months. Any innovation we introduce can be reproduced and scaled by the enemy in a few months.
The only way to keep the advantage is not just to develop new solutions, but to create a powerful ecosystem of manufacturers who are able to test, adapt and introduce technologies into the army quickly.
Advertising:
As history shows, the technological advantage changes the course of war. In the Second World War, the United Kingdom was able to protect the sky over London through the introduction of radars, which allowed the detection of German bombers before they were approaching. In the First World War, the Allies reflected the course of fighting thanks to tanks that helped to break the fortified German positions. In our war, such a technological breakthrough became battle drones and ground robotic systems, which radically changed the tactics of fighting and allowed Ukraine to effectively resist a much more numerical enemy.
At the Brave1 Forum, which took place a week ago, it was obvious that the basis for the development of a military Miltech cluster in Ukraine already exists. State initiatives have contributed to coordination of efforts, and some small manufacturers have been able to increase the scale of production in recent months. But this is not enough. We need much more players, more industries, more resources to turn Ukraine into a global center of military robotics. This will be the guarantee of not only our victory, but also long -term safety of Europe.
In order not to lose the initiative, we have to take the next step. Our key is not one centralized cluster, but a powerful ecosystem of developing players multiply, and become stronger. We need to create new production, attract new players and strengthen existing ones. We cannot afford to work in isolation – it is necessary to combine military, producers, state, investors and international partners into a single system where everyone plays their role.
This is a task for everyone. The state must create conditions for rapid innovation, minimize bureaucracy and support manufacturers that can supply technology directly to the troops. The private sector should be scale, launching new productions, entering international markets. Foreign investors and partners should see that Ukraine is not just a state that needs help, but a place where the future of military technologies is being formed today. It is we who need to create the conditions under which Ukraine will be an obvious choice for investing in Miltech innovation, demonstrating the speed of implementation of decisions, unique conditions for testing and real combat experience that allows you to make these decisions more effective.
But most importantly, the Ukrainian army should be able to test, adapt and introduce innovations quickly. Military units should not just be users of technology, but their complications. This means close interaction between combat units and manufacturers, fast tests in real conditions and immediate changes in new developments. Such cooperation will significantly increase the speed of the innovation cycle, allowing us to always stay one step in front of the enemy.
The development of a military technological cluster is not just an economic or defense strategy. It is a strategy of our victory. We need to demonstrate partners that Ukraine is not only an outpost of democracy that needs to be supported for ideals. We must prove that in times of global geopolitical and technological changes, we become an equal partner that can be relied on. The Ukrainian army is not just the armed forces, but the most experienced in modern technological wars, a structure that is not only able to fight, but also to form new standards for the safety of the entire European continent.
That is why now we have no right to stop. The number of companies operating in the field of military technology should increase. Production should be scale. New players should come to this area. It is the creation of a powerful network of manufacturers that will be a guarantee that Ukraine will not only stand in this war, but also determine its course.
Alexander Yabchankacaptain, head of the land robotic work complexes of the battalion “Wolf Da Vinci” 59 OMBR, co -founder of the Defense Robotics UA Foundation
A column is a material that reflects the author’s point of view. The text of the column does not claim the objectivity and comprehensive coverage of the topic that rises in it. The editorial board of “Ukrainian Truth” is not responsible for the accuracy and interpretation of the information provided and plays only the role of the carrier. The point of view of the UP editorial board may not coincide with the point of view of the author of the column.