The Brave1 defense technology cluster has signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus Defence and Space, Europe's leading company in space systems, defense, and security, during the Brave1 Advantage event marking the organization's third anniversary.
According to Brave1, this is the cluster's first strategic partnership with a major Western defense corporation and the first step under its new Brave Prime initiative—a dedicated mechanism designed to integrate global defense industry leaders directly into Ukraine's battle-tested defense innovation ecosystem.
As part of the partnership, the two sides will establish joint working groups covering everything from fundamental research to the modernization of existing solutions. Airbus Defence and Space technologies will be integrated into the Test in Ukraine program, where they will undergo intensive joint testing directly on the front line, with results evaluated alongside Ukrainian military personnel. Data on the operational performance of the technologies will be fed back into the development cycle to enable rapid improvements and meet evolving security requirements.
"As Brave1 celebrates three years of building Ukraine's defence tech ecosystem, our mission is expanding from launching startups to forging global industrial alliances under our new 'Brave Prime' initiative,” said Iryna Zabolotna, COO of Brave1. «In Ukraine, research and development cycles are measured not in months or years, but in days. Partnering with a global leader like Airbus allows us to combine their decades of deep aerospace expertise with our agile, combat-tested R&D approach. Together, we are building faster, more resilient defence solutions for the future of European security.”
According to Jo Müller, a member of the Airbus Defence and Space Executive Committee, "collaborating with Ukraine on defence means effectively working on Europe's collective security."
"Being chosen by Brave1 to become a strategic partner in one of the world’s most advanced defence ecosystems means a lot to us. We are committed to supporting our partners with our comprehensive experience and skills in defence aerospace - while augmenting our future capabilities through the unique experience and talent of Ukrainian innovators."
In addition, Airbus will become a strategic partner of the Defence Tech Valley summit in Lviv.
