Ukrainian Defense Industry


Ukrainian Defense Industry, also known as Ukroboronprom, is the largest arms manufacturer in Ukraine and one of the 50 largest companies in the arms industry. The company has ceased most of its activities within Ukraine since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and has relocated much of its production abroad during the war.
The concern includes enterprises that operate in the development, manufacture, sale, repair, modernization and disposal of weapons, military and special equipment and ammunition, and participating in military-technical cooperation with foreign states.
As of 2025 corporatization continues.

History

Ukroboronprom was created in 2010 by presidential and ministerial decrees.
In September 2013, five divisions were created for the organizational structure of Ukroboronprom: aircraft industry and aircraft maintenance; precision weaponry and munition; armoured vehicles, automotive equipment, engineering and special equipment; shipbuilding and marine facilities; radar, radio communications and air defense systems.
In 2016 Ukroboronprom signed a memorandum of cooperation with the former head of the Agency for Defence Advanced Research Projects Anthony Tetter. He became an advisor on the long-term development of "Ukroboronprom".
"Ukroboronprom" was the first among Ukrainian industrial giants to launch a system of e-procurement. Its official start was in October 2014. The concern claims they saved US$304.8 million in 2015, and in 2016 – ₴476.6 million.
Ukroboronprom increased its production and began to provide Ukraine's Armed Forces with modernized weaponry. In 2017, Ukroboronprom completed the State Defence Order and conveyed 3,673 units of weapons and equipment to the security agencies of the country, including 2,053 new and upgraded ones.
For 2014–2017, Ukroboronprom rose by 14 positions – from 91 to 77th place – in the SIPRI world ranking of arms manufacturers.
Ukroboronprom together with the American company Delphi Corporation has launched a new enterprise "Electric Systems". It has become the official supplier of components for Mercedes products.
On 12 February 2018 Roman Romanov resigned and was replaced on 21 February 2018 when the President of Ukraine appointed Pavlo Bukin as Director General. Aivaras Abromavičius succeeded him on 31 August 2019. Abromavičius was succeeded by Ihor Fomenko on 6 October 2020. Yuriy Husev was placed as General Director in December 2020.

Russian invasion

During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukroboronprom Concern repaired and maintained both Ukrainian vehicles and captured Russian vehicles. It offered US$1,000,000 to Russian pilots for every combat-capable aircraft handed over to them as well as $500,000 for every combat-capable helicopter handed over.
On 6 March 2022, Ukroboronprom Concern's Zhytomyr Armour Plant was destroyed, with three people being killed. On 15 April, the Ukroboronprom Concern Vizar Plant was struck with several sea-based long-range missiles. The plant produced R-360 Neptune cruise missiles for the Armed Forces of Ukraine and is believed that the strike was reprisal for the sinking of the Russian warship Moskva by two Neptune missiles.
On 20 September, it was announced that Ukroboronprom Concern and an unspecified NATO member country were to build a factory for the production of ammunition that will be held to NATO standards.
On 17 October, following the October 2022 Russian missile strikes on Ukrainian targets, Ukroboronprom Concern and the Come Back Alive Foundation independently announced the preparations of a weapon that could "create explosions in Moscow" with a range of up to 1000 kilometres and equipped with a 75 kilogram warhead. It was later revealed that the weapon was an unmanned aerial vehicle and is rumored to be responsible for several attacks on Russian military infrastructure in Saratov, Ryazan, and Kursk.
On 15 March 2023, Ukroboronprom, with the help of a "NATO country", started manufacturing 125 mm smoothbore ammunition for Ukraine's Soviet era tanks outside of Ukraine. Along with existing production of 120 mm mortar rounds, 122 mm and 152 mm artillery shells. A part of a larger effort by Ukraine to manufacture ammunition as Western donors feel the "pinch" in their own stockpiles. Ten employees have been killed thus far during the war. Production sites have had to be dispersed to avoid destruction. The company spokesperson said that "The emergence of this shell is the first product of our joint cooperation with a country from the alliance. It will not end with shells, we will soon show you other products produced with partner countries,"
On 21 March 2023 the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine renamed Ukroboronprom to "Ukrainska oboronna promyslovist".
On 6 April, Ukroboronprom announced that it would start manufacturing 125mm tank rounds with Polish state defence company Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa. This agreement means that Poland will become the second NATO country helping Ukraine manufacture Soviet-era shells. The first is an unidentified Central European NATO member.
On 21 June, Ukroboronprom claimed to have built a drone with a 1000-km range. Whether used in an operation or just tested it was not clear. Ukraine said in autumn 2022 that the weapon it was developing would have a 75-kg warhead.
According to European Pravda, "Ukroboronprom" would be headed by Herman Smetanin from 28 June 2023.

General background

The conglomerate was established in 2010 in place of the existing "Armoured Equipment of Ukraine" and "Technological Military Service".
In 2014 the conglomerate included 134 enterprises of the military–industrial complex of Ukraine and employed some 120,000 people. In 2012 eighteen of those companies were to be reorganized. They included:
According to the company, China and India are a traditional market for Ukrainian military products. In 2013, the Brazilian Navy announced a potential partnership with Ukroboronprom.
In March 2014, after the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, the company barred all exports of weaponry and military equipment to Russia.

Structure

State Concern consists of 134 military industry sector enterprises of Ukraine.

Manufacturing and design sector

Armored vehicles, artillery armament, automotive, and special engineering equipment

  • "Artyleriyske Ozbroyennia" Design Bureau
  • 45th Experimental Mechanical Factory
  • Donetsk Treasury Factory of Chemicals
  • Feodosiya Optical Factory
  • Izyum Device Manufacturing Factory
  • Kharkiv Plant of Special Vehicles
  • Kharkiv Plant of Transporting Equipment
  • Kharkiv Design Bureau of Engine Manufacturing
  • Kharkiv Automobile Plant
  • Kharkiv Armored Vehicle Plant
  • Kharkiv Mechanical Plant
  • Malyshev Factory
  • *Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau
  • Kyiv Automobile Repair Plant
  • Kyiv Armored Vehicle Plant
  • Kremenchuk Automobile Plant KrAZ
  • Lviv Armored Vehicle Plant
  • "Mayak" Factory
  • Mykolaiv Armored Vehicle Plant
  • Nizhyn Repair Factory of Military Engineering Vehicles
  • Research and Production Complex "Photoprylad"
  • Rivne Automobile Repair Plant
  • Shepetivka Repair Factory
  • Ukrainian State Research Institute of Structural Materials "Prometei"
  • Science and Technology Complex "Zavod Tochnoyi Mekhaniky"
  • Zaporizhzhia Engineering Design Bureau of Academician Ivchenko "Prohres"
  • Zhytomyr Armored Vehicle Plant

    Shipbuilding

  • Research and Production Association "Kyivskyi Zavod Avtomatyky"
  • State Research and Design Shipbuilding Center
  • Mykolayiv Shipyard
  • Kherson Factory "Palada"
  • Kherson Factory "Sudmash"
  • Central Design Bureau "Izumrud"
  • Research Institute of Radiolocation Systems "Kvant-Radiolokatsiya"
  • Kyiv State Factory "Burevisnyk"
  • Ukrainian State Research Institute of Structural Materials "Prometei"
  • Research Design Bureau "Promin"
  • Fiolent Factory
  • Feodosiya Shipyards "More"
  • Skloplastyk
  • Special Site of Technical Production "Polumia"
  • Design-Technology Bureau "Sudokompozyt"
  • Central Design Bureau "Chonomorets"
  • Feodosiya Ship Mechanical Factory
  • "Oryzon-Navihatsiya"
  • Research and Production Complex of Gas-turbine Engineering "Zoria-Mashproekt"

    Radiolocation, RF Signal and Air Defence systems

  • "Rubin"
  • Research Institute of Radio-electronics
  • Central Design Bureau "Proton"
  • Zmiiv Power Engineering Repair Factory
  • Balakliya Repair Factory
  • 2nd Repair Factory of Signal Devices
  • Ternopil Science Technology Company "Promin"
  • Research Institute "Shtorm"
  • Special Design Bureau "Molniya"
  • Technical Production Company "Hranit"
  • Southern Technical Production Company
  • Ukrainian Radio-frequency Engineering Institute
  • Lviv Research Institute of Radio-frequency Engineering
  • Lviv Radio-frequency Repair Factory
  • Kvant Factory
  • "Meridian" of Korolyov
  • Kyiv Factory "Radar"
  • Research Institute "Buran"
  • Henerator Factory
  • Special Design Bureau "Spektr"
  • Research Institute "Kvant"
  • Science Technology Complex "Impuls"
  • Research and Production Complex "Iskra"
  • Zaporizhzhia Company "Radioprylad"
  • Zhytomyr Repair Factory of Radio-frequency equipment "Promin"
  • Research Institute of Complex Automation
  • Design Bureau of RF Signal
  • Lviv State Factory "Lorta"
  • Production Union "Karpaty"

    Aircraft

  • Antonov
  • *Antonov Serial Production Plant
  • * Kyiv Aircraft Repair Plant 410
  • * Kharkiv State Aircraft Manufacturing Company
  • 171st Chernihiv Repair Plant
  • Chuhuiv Repair Plant
  • Mykolaiv Repair Plant "NARP"
  • Research Company "Koneks"
  • Lviv State Aircraft Repair Plant
  • Repair Factory of Radio-frequency Equipment
  • Ukrainian Research Institute of Aviation Technology
  • Central Research Institute of Navigation and Administration
  • Design Bureau of Laser Technology
  • Spetsoboronmash
  • General Aviation Design Bureau of Ukraine
  • Radiovymiryuvach
  • Zaporizhzhia Aircraft Repair Plant "MiGremont"
  • Zakarpattia Helicopter Producing Association
  • Lutsk Repair Plant "Motor"
  • 732nd Vinnytsia Repair Plant
  • Vinnytsia Aviation Factory "ViAZ"
  • Research Center "Vertolit"
  • Research Institute of Aero-Elastic Systems
  • Sevastopol Aviation Company
  • Yevpatoriya Aviation Repair Factory
  • "Artem" Holding Company
  • Novator
  • Kharkiv Engineering Factory "FED"
  • Odesa Aviation Factory
  • Krasyliv Aggregate Factory