The war in Ukraine has triggered a fundamental shift in the global defence landscape. Not only has it exposed critical vulnerabilities in Western defence structures, but it has also showcased to the world what can be achieved with rapid defence technology innovation.
The Strategic Defence Review (SDR), published earlier this year, set a much-needed precedent for enforcing a new ‘warfighting readiness’ standard across the UK’s armed forces, with valuable lessons from russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine forming a large part of this thinking. The war in Ukraine has demonstrated a new model for defence innovation, where technologies, from drones to electronic warfare, are developed and deployed in weeks, not years. Therefore, the UK government’s plans include reforming procurement processes, which, to date, have acted as a major bottleneck for the adoption of innovative technologies, as well as promoting greater involvement of the UK’s talented SMEs in the sector.
This paper makes a case to go a step further. From discussions with defence leaders from across both nations, including representatives from TechUK, Expeditions, Kvertus, Delian, L7, the Defence Security and Resilience Bank, it is concluded that merely observing Ukrainian innovation from a distance will be insufficient to prepare the UK for the realities of modern, high-intensity warfare. Not only will it leave the UK without direct access to the first-hand experience of modern security threats, such as the pressing need for anti-drone technologies, as evidenced by recent incursions in Eastern Europe. This approach also puts Ukraine at risk, as its world-leading intellectual property could be exploited without providing the long-term economic benefits essential for its post-war recovery. This distant approach leaves both nations vulnerable.
We propose a deeper, long-term partnership between the UK and Ukrainian defence ecosystems. Our research finds that while direct procurement from Ukraine may remain challenging, the future lies in UK-Ukraine defence innovation pathways. This includes joint ventures between British and Ukrainian companies, as well as supporting Ukrainian firms in establishing their own industrial bases within the UK.
‘Restructure’ expands on discussions from the SDR regarding the future of the UK defence sector. It also seeks to answer a question that many Ukrainian companies have begun to ask themselves after three and a half years of fighting: what will become of Ukraine’s wartime innovators after the war is over?
Experts suggest that the private sector can also play a crucial role. Increased investment in Ukrainian technologies now, before export bans are lifted, can help de-risk future commercial pathways. The UK government can facilitate this by sending clearer signals that encourage private capital to flow more freely into this strategically vital sector.
With these findings, the UK can lead the way in creating a modern defence ecosystem that is agile, resilient, and ready for the challenges of tomorrow.
The Strategic Defence Review (SDR), published earlier this year, set a much-needed precedent for enforcing a new ‘warfighting readiness’ standard across the UK’s armed forces, with valuable lessons from russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine forming a large part of this thinking. The war in Ukraine has demonstrated a new model for defence innovation, where technologies, from drones to electronic warfare, are developed and deployed in weeks, not years. Therefore, the UK government’s plans include reforming procurement processes, which, to date, have acted as a major bottleneck for the adoption of innovative technologies, as well as promoting greater involvement of the UK’s talented SMEs in the sector.
This paper makes a case to go a step further. From discussions with defence leaders from across both nations, including representatives from TechUK, Expeditions, Kvertus, Delian, L7, the Defence Security and Resilience Bank, it is concluded that merely observing Ukrainian innovation from a distance will be insufficient to prepare the UK for the realities of modern, high-intensity warfare. Not only will it leave the UK without direct access to the first-hand experience of modern security threats, such as the pressing need for anti-drone technologies, as evidenced by recent incursions in Eastern Europe. This approach also puts Ukraine at risk, as its world-leading intellectual property could be exploited without providing the long-term economic benefits essential for its post-war recovery. This distant approach leaves both nations vulnerable.
We propose a deeper, long-term partnership between the UK and Ukrainian defence ecosystems. Our research finds that while direct procurement from Ukraine may remain challenging, the future lies in UK-Ukraine defence innovation pathways. This includes joint ventures between British and Ukrainian companies, as well as supporting Ukrainian firms in establishing their own industrial bases within the UK.
‘Restructure’ expands on discussions from the SDR regarding the future of the UK defence sector. It also seeks to answer a question that many Ukrainian companies have begun to ask themselves after three and a half years of fighting: what will become of Ukraine’s wartime innovators after the war is over?
Experts suggest that the private sector can also play a crucial role. Increased investment in Ukrainian technologies now, before export bans are lifted, can help de-risk future commercial pathways. The UK government can facilitate this by sending clearer signals that encourage private capital to flow more freely into this strategically vital sector.
With these findings, the UK can lead the way in creating a modern defence ecosystem that is agile, resilient, and ready for the challenges of tomorrow.
Today, we present a new research, made by UK-UA TechExchange – READ HERE