The Russia-Ukraine war has been a process that has developed Ukraine’s defense capabilities while also providing important lessons for the US Department of Defense. From the first days of the war, Ukraine has managed to rapidly meet its operational needs with commercial technology-based solutions. This article will focus on the transformation Ukraine has experienced in defense technologies and how the US can benefit from this experience.
Ukraine’s Rapid Adaptation: Commercial Technology and Domestic Production
Before the war, Ukraine’s defense industry was slow and inefficient. State institutions such as UkrOboronProm struggled to manage arms procurement processes. However, with the beginning of the war, Ukraine abandoned this traditional system and turned to commercial technology. This transformation allowed Ukraine to field new systems that were effective in areas such as intelligence gathering, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attacks and landmine removal.
Ukraine’s approach has drawn attention, particularly with its commercially available drones capable of launching deadly attacks against Russian tanks and armored vehicles. Ukraine has modified Soviet-era munitions with drones and directed them at its targets. This innovative solution has demonstrated the importance of rapidly adapting technology needed during wartime.
Brave1: Rapid Innovation and Technology Development
One of the most notable developments in Ukraine’s defense technology has been the establishment of Brave1. Brave1 is a platform that enables the rapid development of new technologies based on warfighter demand. By connecting warfighters to technology developers, the platform has accelerated the fielding of new weapons systems. Brave1 has pioneered the development of AI-enabled systems such as the Swarmer drone and Griselda, and has invested over $19 million in such projects. Ukraine’s experience could provide insight into how the U.S. Department of Defense can rapidly develop solutions through non-government innovation agencies and online platforms.
Two Lessons for the U.S. Department of Defense
Two key lessons from Ukraine’s transformation could be valuable to the U.S. Department of Defense. First, the U.S. can integrate commercial technology into military processes more aggressively. Commercial technology is often cheaper and more advanced. Ukraine’s experience highlights the importance of rapid adaptation and acquiring technology from the commercial market, especially in times of war. By adopting systems such as commercial drones, the U.S. can gather intelligence or launch attacks more quickly and more cheaply.
Second, the U.S. Department of Defense could also create a structure that quickly connects technology developers to specific operational needs, inspired by Brave1’s approach. Brave1’s online platform, which can quickly respond to warfighter demands, could allow the U.S. to create a similar structure, making the development and deployment of weapons systems more efficient in the face of rapidly changing operational needs.
Other Lessons the U.S. Should Learn
Ukraine’s transfer of procurement authority to the field level has enabled faster deployment of new technology and systems. In addition, the high-tech military industrial cluster established in Kiev has strengthened Ukraine’s defense industry, providing faster and more flexible solutions in production and supply chains. The U.S. could make defense processes more agile and effective if it integrated some of these strategies into its own systems.
Ukraine’s defense technology transformation offers valuable lessons for the U.S. Department of Defense. Commercial technology-based solutions and rapid innovation agencies are critical to maintaining strategic advantage during wartime. The U.S. can learn from Ukraine’s experience by making defense processes more efficient and agile, and responding quickly to future military needs.
