Brave1
The "Test in Ukraine" Program
A cornerstone of Brave1's international ties is the Test in Ukraine platform. It allows foreign manufacturers to test prototypes in real-time combat conditions. As of late 2025, over 126 companies from 17 countries (including the US, Germany, and Denmark) had applied to use this "battlefield laboratory
Brave1: https://brave1.gov.ua/
X: https://x.com/BRAVE1ua
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Brave1ua
LinkedIn:
BRAVE1 is the one-of-a-kind entry point for cooperation in a field of Ukrainian defense tech: companies, startups, government, defense forces, investors, volunteer funds, media and all who join forces for victory through technology. BRAVE1 – Ukrainian Defense Tech cluster co-founded by the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, the Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine, the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine.
Website https://brave1.gov.ua/en/
Industry Defense and Space Manufacturing
Company size 2-10 employees
Headquarters Kyiv
Type Government Agency Founded 2023
Brave1 is Ukraine's unified government platform, launched to foster DefenseTech innovation, providing grants, testing, and implementation for autonomous systems. It unites stakeholders to accelerate R&D in robotics, AI, and UAVs, with 2024 funding exceeding $39 million, partnering with firms like Palantir to advance AI on the battlefield.
Key aspects of Brave1's role in autonomous R&D include:
Focus Areas: Priority is given to autonomous unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) like the Muraha and Bohomol, drone components, and AI-driven platforms.
Grant Programs: Brave1 provides grants ($50k–$250k) to startups, such as those working on advanced autonomy (e.g., The Fourth Law).
Brave1 Market: An "Amazon for war" platform (launched April 2025) allows military units to procure drones and robotic systems.
Component Development: In late 2025, a new grant program was launched to fund component manufacturers, providing up to UAH 8 million for R&D.
International Collaboration: Partnerships with firms like German-Ukrainian Quantum Systems and AI-platform providers like Palantir strengthen the development pipeline.
The Brave1 Market is a first-of-its-kind digital marketplace, often called the "Amazon for the military," where Ukrainian frontline units can browse, compare, and order over 2,600 defense technology products directly from more than 600 manufacturers. Launched in April 2025, the platform streamlines defense procurement, cutting delivery times for critical equipment from several months to as little as six to ten
The vetting process for the Brave1 Market is a multi-stage funnel designed to move technologies from an engineer’s idea to the frontline in weeks rather than years. Manufacturers must prove their technical viability, operational security, and production capacity before their products appear in the digital catalog.
Global R&D Partnerships:
Brave1 facilitates international collaboration to integrate Western expertise with Ukrainian battlefield data:
The Netherlands: A partnership with the TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research) focuses on autonomous systems, decision support, and underwater warfare.
Norway: A €20 million joint program with the Norwegian Defense Research Establishment (FFI) to boost defense innovation.
European Union: The EU4UA Defence Tech program provides €3.3 million in grants specifically for accelerating Ukrainian defense startups.
Companies involved in the sector, such as {Link: Autonomous Engineering R&D Ukraine https://aernd.com.ua/services/products-developments/?lang=en}
and those specializing in drones like {Link: Drone Space Labs https://ukrainesarmsmonitor.substack.com/p/ukraines-military-marketplace-2-drone}
leverage this ecosystem to move from prototyping to frontline deployment.
Brave1 serves as the primary gateway for international defense collaboration in Ukraine, establishing deep ties with several nations and global alliances to accelerate military innovation.
Major International Partnerships
United States: Home to some of Brave1’s most critical tech partners, specifically Palantir Technologies, which co-launched the Brave1 Dataroom to train AI for drone defense. Former CIA Director David Petraeus also serves as a high-profile advocate for the cluster.
NATO: In November 2025, the UNITE (Brave NATO) program was launched. It is a joint €50 million initiative with the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) focused on scaling technologies like interceptor drones and secure communications to meet NATO interoperability standards.
European Union: Through the BraveTech EU initiative and the EU4UA Defence Tech program, the EU provides millions in grants (e.g., a €3.3 million round in late 2025) to integrate Ukrainian startups into the broader European defense landscape.
Norway: A specific Brave-Norway partnership was established in October 2025, including a €20 million grant program and joint research projects managed by the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI).
Japan: Brave1 partners with Japanese tech giant Rakuten to help Ukrainian defense firms enter the Japanese market, following high-level cooperation at the DSEI Japan defense exhibition.
United Kingdom: Close cooperation exists with the ADS Group (the UK's aerospace and defense trade association) and deals to mass-produce Ukrainian-designed drones, like the Octopus-100, within the UK.
The "Test in Ukraine" Program
A cornerstone of Brave1's international ties is the Test in Ukraine platform. It allows foreign manufacturers to test prototypes in real-time combat conditions. As of late 2025, over 126 companies from 17 countries (including the US, Germany, and Denmark) had applied to use this "battlefield laboratory
Brave1's international grant landscape and NATO integration are designed to bridge the gap between rapid battlefield innovation and standardized Western military systems.
1. Grant Amounts for Startups
Funding for startups typically comes in tiered phases, depending on the specific program or alliance.
NATO DIANA (Accelerator):
Phase 1: Startups receive an initial non-dilutive grant of €100,000 ($108,000) for a six-month program.
Phase 2: Selected companies can receive an additional €300,000 for further development.
NATO Science for Peace and Security (SPS): These multi-year research grants generally range from €250,000 to €400,000 per project.
NATO Chief Scientist Grants: Focused on smaller, niche research excellence with awards between €25,000 and €100,000.
Venture Capital: For more mature companies, the NATO Innovation Fund (a €1 billion standalone VC fund) makes direct equity investments in dual-use tech.
2. NATO Interoperability Tests
Interoperability ensures that Ukrainian-made tech (like Brave1 drones) can "talk" to and work alongside NATO systems.
Standardization via Data: Instead of mandating a single tool, NATO often focuses on standardizing data formats. This allows different nations to use their own tools while ensuring they are "interchangeable" within the alliance.
AIS Fund: The Accelerating Interoperability and Standardization (AIS) Fund supports projects that validate interoperable solutions and identify challenges. For example, a 2026 project focuses specifically on the standardization of Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs).
Test Centers: Startups in programs like DIANA gain access to a network of over 180 test centers across 30+ countries to verify their tech meets military-grade standards.
Security Clearances: For contractors to perform on classified NATO contracts, they must obtain a NATO Facility Security Clearance Certificate (FSCC) and undergo specific security briefing
