Global Defense News
On 22 October, 2025, SAAB and Ukraine moved to co-produce air defense systems under the state-led “Build in Ukraine” initiative, as reported by Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence. The program anchors Ukraine’s shift from end-user to industrial partner inside Europe’s defense ecosystem, aiming to shorten delivery timelines and harden wartime supply chains. The announcement matters because localized manufacturing and sustainment can stabilize Ukraine’s air-defense coverage amid persistent missile and drone attacks, while attracting foreign investment and jobs. It also signals that international primes are ready to place production inside a country at war, with more than two dozen firms now localizing operations.
