France is poised to become a significant partner in Ukraine’s defense industry, with President Emmanuel Macron announcing a landmark agreement that will allow Ukraine to produce French-made missiles and other advanced weaponry. This strategic move, solidified through a roadmap agreed upon by Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, represents France’s commitment to bolstering Ukraine’s capabilities on the battlefield and in the long term.
The agreement details the licensed production of AASM precision-guided air-to-ground bombs, Aster air-defence interceptor missiles, and SCALP, long-range air-launched cruise missiles. This is a groundbreaking step, marking the first time France has agreed to such production capabilities being established in Ukraine, thereby enabling Kyiv to significantly expand its own munitions stocks at a critical juncture.… Continue reading
Ukraine’s request for its allies to allocate 0.25% of their respective GDPs to bolster Ukrainian weapons production is a multifaceted proposal deserving careful consideration. It’s framed as a mutually beneficial arrangement, not simply a plea for charity.
The proposal cleverly positions the investment as a strategic move for Western nations, allowing them to simultaneously support Ukraine’s defense, boost their own weapons manufacturing capabilities, and gain invaluable real-world testing data on new weaponry in a high-stakes conflict. This is particularly attractive given the immense cost of independent weapons development and testing, making the Ukrainian conflict a sort of discounted, large-scale field trial.… Continue reading
Ukraine’s defense industry has dramatically increased domestic production from under 10% to approximately one-third of its military equipment since the start of the Russian invasion. This surge is largely due to the “Danish model” of military aid, which funds locally produced weapons, resulting in a 25-fold increase in artillery and mortar production and a massive expansion of drone production in 2024. This model, exemplified by the rapid delivery of domestically produced Bohdana howitzers, offers significant cost advantages compared to Western alternatives. The success of this initiative has attracted international interest, with Ukraine aiming for even greater production and aiming to become a major arms supplier for the EU.
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Matt Underwood 
John Q. Hosedrinker