€1.85 billion to support Ukraine's Defense Forces: IT Coalition marks third anniversary of cooperation
Фото: Міноборони
The IT Coalition is marking its third anniversary. Over the past three years, Ukraine and 17 partner countries have joined forces to strengthen communications, cybersecurity, IT infrastructure, and digital systems used by the Defense Forces.
Rubryka reports this, citing the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
According to the ministry, over the three years of the IT Coalition's work, partners have allocated €1.85 billion to support Ukraine.
"The IT Coalition enables us to strengthen battlefield communications across the military. In modern warfare, this truly helps protect what matters most – the lives of our people. We are using every available method for this, and we will continue to do so," Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Mstyslav Banik said, thanking the countries that joined the IT Coalition and everyone involved in making decisions within the framework of this cooperation.
The IT Coalition is a group of countries helping Ukraine develop IT, communications, and cybersecurity capabilities for the needs of the Defense Forces.
It was established on September 19, 2023, during a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in the Ramstein format. At the time, Ukraine, Estonia, Luxembourg, Belgium, Denmark, Latvia, and Lithuania signed a Declaration of Intent and launched the coalition.
Today, Ukraine works within the IT Coalition together with 17 partner countries. Estonia and Luxembourg are the coalition's leaders.
The IT Coalition's main areas of work include:
- secure and resilient communications;
- cybersecurity and data protection;
- IT infrastructure development;
- support for digital systems and products;
- testing and implementation of new technologies.
Thanks to the coalition, partners can pool their efforts and jointly support projects that are a priority for Ukraine.
The largest share of the support — €728 million, or nearly 40% — has been allocated to the procurement of broadband radio stations. They help units maintain resilient communications and manage drone operations.
Another €445 million has been allocated to satellite communications. This helps ensure stable connectivity and avoid dependence on a single provider. Partners are also equipping tactical-level command posts, supporting cybersecurity units of the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and helping develop data centers, cloud infrastructure, and tactical networks.
Another area of the coalition's work is digital products and systems for defense needs. Partners help finance development, purchase the necessary licenses and equipment, and deploy workstations for information and communications systems.
Among the projects receiving support from the IT Coalition are Army+, Reserve+, DELTA, Impulse, SAP, and others.
The IT Coalition invests not only in technology but also in the specialists who work with it. Partners have funded training in international cybersecurity standards for more than 1,200 participants, as well as nearly 200 vouchers for courses at the SANS Institute.
Partners also support innovative projects, including Drone ID, and test their technological solutions in Ukraine, particularly in the field of communications. This makes it possible to test technologies in real-world conditions, exchange experience, and better understand the needs of the modern battlefield. Partners can use Ukraine's experience to improve their own solutions.
The IT Coalition's activities are governed by a Cooperation Agreement that runs until 2030.
Over the next two years, the IT Coalition will focus on:
- developing secure radio and satellite communications, including to support drone operations;
- developing IT infrastructure, primarily cloud infrastructure, to increase the resilience of digital services and ensure their backup.
In addition, the coalition plans to strengthen cybersecurity, including data and endpoint protection.
Thanks to the coalition, partners can pool their efforts and jointly support projects that are a priority for Ukraine.
