Ministry of Strategic Industries led by Kamyshin resumes work, establishes cooperation with private sector
During the leadership of Oleksandr Kamyshin at the Ministry of Strategic Industries, the work of the ministry and JSC Ukroboronprom has been restarted, cooperation with the private sector has been established, the production of weapons and military equipment has been increased, and additional funds have been attracted from foreign partners.
According to a report on the website of the Ministry of Strategic Industries on the results of Kamyshin's work as Minister of Strategic Industries (March 2023 to September 2024), at the time of his appointment there was a huge discrepancy between the needs of the Defense Forces and the actual production capacity of the Ukrainian defense industry.
"Production for 2023 has tripled, and the capacity for 2024 is six times greater. The Ukrainian defense industry has reached the stage where it can produce more than the state budget can purchase – the country has funding for less than half of its current capabilities," the ministry said.
The ministry reminds that today the Ukrainian defense industry produces a wide range of weapons: from armored vehicles to UAVs, from ammunition to missiles; armored vehicle repair has been established, and its own serial production of the entire range of mortar and artillery complete rounds has been launched.
The missile program has also made significant progress: cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and drone missiles.
"Ukrainian long-range weapons have been created that strike critical infrastructure targets deep behind enemy lines – more than 1,500 kilometers away. These are all completely Ukrainian developments," the ministry said.
It is also noted that 2024 was a breakthrough in the field of defense tech – if in 2023 the main challenge was the ability to produce a sufficient number of UAVs, then their quality has also increased: resistance to electronic warfare, communications, developments with homing have appeared, active work is underway to introduce artificial intelligence technologies.
In addition, FPV drones made entirely from Ukrainian components are already being produced. The production of robotic platforms has been scaled up: for mining, demining, logistics, medical evacuation, combat missions.
The joint Ukrainian-American FrankenSAM project has also started, a hybrid air defense system consisting of missiles and launchers not intended for use together, the Iron Polihon has been launched, a free service provided by the state to manufacturers of weapons and military equipment for quick and affordable testing of samples at the design stages. The transformation of Ukroboronprom, which today ranks 49th in the top 100 global defense companies and is the fastest growing of them, has begun and continues, the report notes. Private manufacturers are growing even faster and more technologically advanced.
It is also recalled that in October 2023, a joint venture between Ukroboronprom and Rheinmetall was registered, and on June 10, 2024, the first repaired Marder IFV rolled off the assembly line. In addition, there are agreements with two U.S. companies on the joint production of 155-mm ammunition in Ukraine, as well as production licenses from the Franco-German KNDS / Nexter and the Norwegian-Finnish Nammo.
"Ukrainian companies have also signed agreements on joint production with Thales, Hexadron, Amentum Services and subsidiaries of the Czech company Colt CZ. BAE Systems is repairing howitzers supplied by Great Britain to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and is ready to launch full-fledged production if there are contracts," the Ministry of Strategic Industry said.
It is noted that 116 defense companies from 24 countries have joined the Alliance of Defense Industries, and joint international defense-industrial events DFNC are held monthly in different countries.
In July, Ukroboronprom opened its first foreign representative office in Washington, its representatives will support existing U.S.-Ukrainian projects and look for opportunities for new ones: financing and partners.
It is also reported that within ZBROYARI: Manufacturing Freedom initiative, some $671.3 million has already been accumulated: Denmark, the Netherlands, Canada, the EU.
"We are waiting for the final decision from the United States to allocate $2 billion from the Defense Enterprise Fund," the ministry said.
The Ministry of Strategic Industry said 1.5% of the 5.3% of Ukraine's GDP growth in 2023 was provided by the defense industry, and in 2024 this share will at least double.
In March, the Ministry of Strategic Industries and Ukroboronprom created the Veterans Reintegration Center, and the ministry is also cooperating with the Ministry of Veterans Affairs to attract demobilized servicemen to private business programs.
In addition to the production of weapons, since June 2023, the minister has been monitoring the restoration of shelters in Ukraine to a proper condition. As of September 2024, some 7,467 works have been completed, these are both repairs and the construction of shelters from scratch.