Italian Defense Industry Heavyweights Collaborate with Ukraine

Five Italian arms and military equipment companies have joined the Alliance of Ukrainian Defense Industries. The Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine reported on this. Ukraine's Ministry of Strategic Industries met with an Italian delegation led by Italian Deputy Defense Minister Lieutenant-General Luciano Portolano on November 16, 2023.

The delegation included representatives of major Italian companies producing a wide range of weapons, military equipment, and defense systems. On the Ukrainian side, Minister for Strategic Industries of Ukraine Oleksandr Kamyshin and Director General of JSC Ukrainian Defense Industry Herman Smetanin attended the conference.

Meeting of the Ukrainian and Italian sides on cooperation in the defense industry, November 16, 2023. Photo credits: Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine

The parties discussed cooperation in various sectors of the defense industry to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities.

Italian companies offered their projects for implementation. They also discussed cooperation between Italian and Ukrainian manufacturers of military products. During the meeting, the Italian side expressed interest in cooperation in the aviation industry, the production of armored vehicles, airspace protection, the demining of Ukrainian territory, and the sharing of technological innovations.

"The Italian government is allocating separate funds, part of which will be used to develop military innovations in Ukraine. In addition, Italian scientific institutes will be involved in the development of our technologies," the Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine emphasized. Five companies whose representatives participated in the meeting joined the Alliance of Defense Industries: Leonardo S.p.A., Fincantieri, Elettronica, Iveco Defense Vehicles, and FAE Group S.p.A.

Currently, the Alliance of Defense Industries already includes 74 companies from more than 20 countries that are ready to contribute to the development of the Ukrainian defense industry.

Participants of the International Defense Industries Forum (DFNC1) in Kyiv, September 29, 2023.

Photo credits: Office of the President

As previously reported, in September 2023, Kyiv hosted the first International Defense Industries Forum (DFNC1), which brought together 252 companies from more than 30 countries that produce weapons and military equipment.