Ukraine's Defense Industry Expands Rapidly at Eurosatory 2026 in France

At the opening of the Eurosatory defense exhibition in Villepinte on 15 June 2026, the Ukrainian delegation occupied 1 500 m² of exhibition space and showcased 80 Ukrainian companies, up from just ten in 2024. The surge reflects a swift transformation of Ukraine’s defence sector, which has grown from roughly 300 firms pre‑invasion to nearly 1 000 today, with 80 % privately owned. Production value, once about $1 billion annually, is projected to reach $35 billion by 2025, a thirty‑five‑fold increase in three years. Ukrainian firms now present operational drones, electronic‑war systems and loitering munitions that have already been used on the front lines, giving them a competitive edge over established Western manufacturers.

The growth is driven by a shift from a centralized Soviet‑style industrial model to a startup‑like ecosystem supported by the government platform Brave1, which links more than 1 500 militaro‑technological startups with frontline units. The presence at Eurosatory signals that Western buyers are seeking immediately deployable, battle‑tested systems, underscoring Ukraine’s emerging role in the European defence supply chain.