The story
History
Ukroboronprom was created in 2010 by presidential and ministerial decrees.
In September 2013, Ukroboronprom was structured into five divisions: 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 (DARPA) Anthony Tetter. He became an advisor on the long-term development of the conglomerate.
Ukroboronprom was the first among Ukrainian industrial giants to launch a system of e-procurement, officially started in October 2014. The conglomerate 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.
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Russian invasion
During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukroboronprom 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'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 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 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 (NATO) 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 (Ukrainian Defense Industry).
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" (1999) 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 (Resolution #223, March 21, 2012). They included:
Kharkiv Morozov Machine-Building Design Bureau
Kharkiv Engine Building Design Bureau
Ship Building Research Project Center
Shostka State Factory "Zirka" (Star)
Science Producing Complex "Iskra" (Spark)
Chemical State Association of Petrovsky
others
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.
From Wikipedia’s article on Ukrainian Defense Industry, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4