The defense ministries of Sweden and Ukraine have agreed to begin joint production of defense equipment in Sweden to strengthen Ukraine’s battlefield resilience against Russia and bolster European security.
The two sides formalized the defense industrial base cooperation with a letter of intent signing ceremony in Kyiv on Saturday. Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson, who led the event with his Ukrainian counterpart, Denys Shmyhal, said the partnership would combine “a Swedish industrial base, Ukrainian innovation and Ukrainian battlefield experience” to create a stronger defense industry.
Co-Producing Defense Materiel
Under the arrangement, defense materiel co-produced in Sweden will primarily be exported back to Ukraine to aid in its defense against Russian aggression. The products will also be available for purchase by the Swedish Armed Forces. All exports will remain subject to Swedish and international arms control regulations.
Officials emphasized that Ukraine’s security is tightly linked to that of Sweden and the rest of Europe. “Building resilient supply chains and mobilizing the defense industry is crucial for the security of Ukraine, Sweden and the broader Europe,” the two ministries said in the letter of intent.
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Sweden has an advanced industrial base with capacity for both civilian and military production. Ukraine, on the other hand, brings to the partnership its expertise in unmanned systems, electronic warfare and software development.
Defense Industrial Cooperation
Similar joint production agreements are underway between Ukraine and several European allies, reflecting a broader effort to expand Ukraine’s defense industrial cooperation across the region. Last year, Saab said it was in talks with several Ukrainian companies to explore local production of drones, munitions parts, sensor technology and other defense equipment.
The move comes as Western governments seek to accelerate weapons production and streamline supply chains to meet Ukrainian battlefield needs and their own rearmament goals. Analysts say such partnerships could help Ukraine sustain its war effort over the long term while also deepening NATO’s defense readiness.