Ukraine's largest weapons manufacturer adopts NATO standards for small arms production
Photo: mil.in.ua
The company "Ukrainian Defense Industry" will receive a license from the Czech arms producer Česká zbrojovka a.s. to manufacture firearms, Rubryka reports.
"The Ukrainian Defense Industry Joint Stock Company has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Czech company Česká zbrojovka a.s., a subsidiary of Colt CZ Group SE, signing a license transfer agreement. This will enable the production of NATO standard rifles, including the CZ BREN 2 model, in Ukraine and equip the Armed Forces of Ukraine with proven, high-quality standard firearms, strengthening their operational capabilities," the announcement said.
The CZ BREN 2 production technology transfer project was presented as a key initiative at the First Defense Industries International Forum (DFNC 1) in Kyiv at the end of September 2023.
According to the CEO of Česká zbrojovka Jan Zajíc, the mentioned agreement is a direct result of the successful use of the Czech rifle by the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the battlefield.
CZ BREN 2 is used by military formations and law enforcement agencies worldwide, including the Army of the Czech Republic, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Operational Group of the French National Gendarmerie (GIGN), the Portuguese Army, the Polish Border Guard, the Romanian Gendarmerie, and others.
CEO of Ukrainian Defense Industry Herman Smetanin stressed that getting technology from NATO member countries, driven by successful international partnerships and defense industry reform, holds significance for the company.
What we know about the increase in arms production in Ukraine
Ukraine plans significant increases in the production of various types of weapons next year, focusing on missiles and ammunition for air defense systems.
As Deputy Minister of Defense Lieutenant General Ivan Havryliuk stated on a national telethon, the defense department and the Ministry of Strategic Industries aim to increase the production of rockets, ammunition, weapons, and military equipment several times over.
Ukraine plans to manufacture 1 million FPV drones, over 10,000 medium-range strike drones, and over a thousand drones with a range of 1,000 km next year.
Ukraine and Belgium also plan to establish joint arms production.
In turn, the German concern Rheinmetall is negotiating to build a tank plant in Ukraine. Kremlin threats to intensify bombings in Ukraine will not affect the intentions of the German arms company Rheinmetall regarding this construction.
The Ukrainian Defense Industry and the Polish company Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa will jointly produce 125 mm tank shells. Ukraine and Poland signed a corresponding agreement on April 5.
Ukraine and one of the NATO countries have started producing 122 mm artillery shells. The first batch of ammunition has already been sent to the front.
Ukrainian Defense Industry has signed a memorandum of cooperation with the leading German company Dynamit Nobel Defence.
Currently, about 300,000 people are involved in Ukraine's defense complex.
