Ukraine has become an unexpected global laboratory for autonomous systems innovation. Under the extreme pressures of war, Ukrainian companies have developed low-cost, high-performance unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and counter-UAS solutions that rival—and often outpace—those of major US defense contractors.

The world has taken notice. US and allied partners now face a critical challenge: how to identify, validate, and rapidly scale Ukrainian UAS technology into mass production that can support collective defense requirements.

At Veloxxity, we are working with a network of strategic partners across industry, government, and academia to bring this technology into the US defense ecosystem—ensuring America and its allies can match, and ultimately outpace, the production scale of adversaries like the PRC.

Why Ukraine is Leading in UAS Innovation

Unlike traditional defense primes, Ukrainian innovators are operating in live combat conditions where feedback loops are measured in hours and days, not months and years. This environment has produced:

• Rapid iteration cycles – Designs are tested, adapted, and redeployed in near real time.

• Cost-efficient production – Platforms are engineered for affordability, enabling swarm tactics and attritable capabilities.

• Integration of autonomy and AI – Ukrainian firms have pioneered autonomous navigation, precision strike capabilities, and AI-driven targeting.

• Practical counter-UAS measures – Defensive systems are designed to defeat adversary drones already encountered on the battlefield.

For the US and allies, this means that Ukraine is not just a partner to be supported—it is a source of proven, combat-tested innovation that must be integrated into broader defense industrial planning.

Scaling for Strategic Competition

The US Department of War and its partners have acknowledged a significant gap: adversaries, particularly China, are capable of producing unmanned systems at scale, leveraging commercial supply chains and state-driven industrial policies.

To compete, the US needs to:

1. Identify high-performing UAS and autonomy technologies emerging from Ukraine.

2. Validate these systems through controlled test environments and digital twin modeling.

3. Integrate them into US supply chains for mass production.

4. Field them rapidly to both US forces and allied partners.

This requires not just technology transfer, but ecosystem building—linking innovators, investors, industrial capacity, and test ranges into a cohesive pipeline.

Building the Bridge

Veloxxity is helping make this vision real by serving as the connective tissue between Ukrainian innovators and the US defense ecosystem. Our approach brings together:

1. Technology Scouting & Vetting

Through partnerships with trusted networks, Veloxxity identifies Ukrainian firms producing innovative autonomous systems. We conduct technical assessments, battlefield performance reviews, and feasibility studies to determine which technologies are ready for transition.

2. Test & Evaluation at Skyway Range

Veloxxity leverages facilities like Skyway Range—a purpose-built UAS test range equipped with radar and flight management capabilities. This ensures Ukrainian technologies are validated against US and NATO standards before scaling.

3. Industrial Scale-Up

Working with US manufacturing partners, Veloxxity helps transition small-batch prototypes into mass production lines. This includes supply chain integration, quality assurance, and compliance with ITAR and export regulations.

4. Strategic Partnerships

Veloxxity collaborates with:

• US Government agencies to align with operational requirements.

• Allied defense ministries to ensure interoperability.

• Industry partners (defense primes, venture investors, and advanced manufacturers) to accelerate scaling.

• Academic partners to advance AI integration, autonomy testing, and workforce development.

From Prototype to Mass Production

A practical example:

• Prototype stage: A Ukrainian firm develops a loitering munition with AI-assisted targeting.

• Validation stage: Veloxxity conducts controlled testing at Skyway Range, modeling performance against adversary threat environments.

• Scale stage: US manufacturing partners adapt the design for industrial-scale production, ensuring supply chain resilience and affordability.

• Fielding stage: Systems are deployed to US and partner forces, closing gaps in swarm operations and attritable strike capabilities.

This pipeline mirrors the “Willow Run” model of WWII, when the US rapidly scaled aircraft production to meet global demand—except today the focus is autonomous systems at scale.

Why It Matters

• For the US and allies: This effort strengthens the defense industrial base and ensures forces can compete in swarm-scale operations.

• For Ukraine: It creates sustainable pathways for innovation to reach broader markets, supporting economic resilience and warfighting capacity.

• For global security: It ensures democratic nations—not authoritarian competitors—lead the future of autonomy.

The Future of Autonomous Systems is Allied

Strategic competition will not be decided by a handful of exquisite platforms—it will be determined by who can innovate, produce, and field autonomous systems at scale.

Veloxxity and our partners are committed to ensuring that the US and its allies lead in this space. By identifying Ukrainian innovation, validating it through rigorous testing, and scaling it through industrial capacity, we are building the foundation for a secure and resilient future.