Ukraine, long keeping its weapons at home, now lets 18 arms makers export, approving over 90% of more than 400 applications

Ukraine, which had previously kept its weapons domestically, is now allowing its arms manufacturers to export their products. The Commission on Export Control has granted permission to 18 Ukrainian companies to ship their finished weapons abroad, with over 90% of more than 400 applications approved, according to the National Security and Defense Council. This change comes after the commission had been halted for an eight-month period before resuming operations in February.

Ukraine's defense production has surged from approximately $1 billion annually at the beginning of the invasion to an estimated $55 billion in 2026. The exports are managed under the "Drone Deals" framework, established by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in April. This initiative allows controlled sales of surplus weapons to partner nations while the Defense Ministry and General Staff retain primary access to all necessary equipment.

Some export categories are now exceeding Ukraine's own requirements or financial capacity by up to 50%. The commission's progress has been slow until recently, but it has since issued its first permits and continues to work towards expanding partnerships abroad. The aim is to scale Ukrainian technology rather than execute isolated deals, with a focus on helping domestic producers expand their reach globally while offering partners functional solutions.

An industry group representing over 400 companies had previously complained that the export mechanism was impeding their operations, citing a 20-to-30% fee on export permits that made Ukrainian goods uncompetitive and a backlog of pending foreign bids. The commission recently met with a UK Defense Ministry delegation to explore further collaboration, including a Drone Deal, an anti-ballistic missile coalition, and joint production opportunities.