Ukraine is inviting startups, companies, and governments from across the world to use the Ukrainian war to test their platforms.
Launched last week, Brave1 announced the “Test in Ukraine” initiative, where countries and companies can send over prototypes for Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs), Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), counter-UAS, ammunition, naval drones, lasers, electronic warfare, AI-platforms, and more.
“Testing in Ukraine allows you to address urgent frontline needs by generating targeted solutions, supporting their development and enabling real-world trials with immediate combat feedback,” the defense technology incubator supported by the Ukrainian government said.
“We help allies of Ukraine refine and pilot their technologies within one of the world’s most dynamic and demanding defense environments.”Companies can either participate directly in the testing process or to “Leave it to Us” and hand over the product it to Brave1 specialists, who provide detailed feedback and performance reports.
"Ukraine has already built a unique infrastructure for the rapid development of defense innovations. We are ready to help companies from partner countries develop, test, and improve technologies that really work on the battlefield. This is an opportunity to gain experience that cannot be modeled in laboratories.
Brave1 is your entry point: for testing, joint development, and scaling of the best solutions for Ukraine's victory," said Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's minister of digital transformation, in a press release.
According to Fedorov, companies will also benefit from cooperation with Ukrainian manufacturers to scale up their solutions and speed up market entry. The initiative also provides a step-by-step guide for bringing defense and dual-use products into Ukraine.
“Ukraine offers not only training grounds but also partnerships to create effective solutions,” the press release said.
Ukraine to become a hub for defense innovation
The initiative is part of Ukraine’s broader strategy to become a hub for defense innovation. Brave1 already supports thousands of tech solutions for the front lines and has attracted interest from global investors and partners, as small startups have become instrumental in holding off Russian forces and intercepting Iranian Shahed drones launched by Moscow.
On Sunday, the Minister of Defence of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal said that the country is “intensifying efforts across all areas to bolster our defense capabilities.” Earlier in the week Shmyhal met with Fedorov and held discussions that focused on weapons manufacturing and the “launch of new capabilities that could alter the dynamics on the front line,” read a Ukrainian Ministry of Defense press release.
Similar to Ukraine, Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, as well as the wars in Lebanon and Iran, have become a proving ground for its defense startups, accelerating the development and deployment of cutting-edge technologies. With an already thriving startup scene, these deployments allow companies to shorten traditional development cycles, turning years of testing into weeks.
The prolonged wars have also seen a large number of high-tech reservists serving ongoing rounds of duty. Their time on the battlefield has led them to develop innovative technology to help fellow soldiers.
Israel’s defense tech ecosystem, which has been undergoing a dramatic transformation, is marked by a surge in purpose-driven innovation and a clear shift toward defense-oriented solutions.
And with the growing defense-tech scene, Israeli defense startups are attracting capital and expanding internationally. Defense exports reached a record $14.8 billion in 2024, with over 50% headed to Europe.
While Israeli companies are banned from selling weapons and technology to Ukraine, several companies have found roundabout ways to get their platforms into the conflict.
Ukraine and Israel’s defense tech scenes are booming, fueled by urgency, ingenuity, and global interest. These dual paths to battlefield innovation underscore a shift, as modern defense technology is no longer confined to labs or simulations. It’s forged in the fire of live battlefields.