Lithuanian defense firm Unmanned Defense Systems (UDS) has established a Ukrainian joint venture to support the deployment of its unmanned systems and work directly with local military units and technology partners.
UDS develops reconnaissance and strike drones alongside command-and-control software designed to integrate these aircraft with third-party platforms and battle management systems.
With a permanent presence in Ukraine, UDS will use its local team to support product deployment, train operators, and gather feedback from military users to guide further development.
The company aims to shorten the time between identifying battlefield requirements and delivering technical changes.
Through the venture, UDS also seeks to become part of Ukraine’s defense technology industry, build ongoing cooperation with local partners, and give military users closer access to its technical expertise.
Feedback from Ukrainian units will help shape updates to UDS systems as battlefield needs evolve.
“Ukraine has fundamentally changed the speed at which defense technology must evolve,” said Vytenis J. Buzas, co-founder and CEO of UDS.
“By establishing a permanent presence in Ukraine, we want to bring our technology, engineering experience and systems approach closer to the people who need these capabilities.”
‘Build in Ukraine’
The news comes as the war-torn country is seeking to turn cooperation with foreign suppliers into investment in its own defense industry.
Last year, Kyiv outlined “Build in Ukraine,” an initiative encouraging international companies to manufacture locally and establish joint ventures with Ukrainian firms.
The approach aims to supply Ukrainian forces while expanding the country’s ability to produce equipment at home.
It also seeks to attract investment and connect Ukrainian manufacturers more closely with European defense companies.
Beyond conventional weapons production, the initiative targets businesses developing unmanned systems, cybersecurity tools, and counter-drone technologies.