Build in Ukraine
Ukrainian government initiative pairing 25+ foreign defense manufacturers with Ukrainian companies for localized co-production arrangements, aimed at building resilient supply chains outside the range of Russian long-range strikes. Njord Technology's co-production partnership with AIDronesUA on the MAUL ground-robotic evacuation complex operates under this initiative.
Officially launched by Ukraine's Ministry of Defence on October 22, 2025 as part of a trio of distinct defense-industrial initiatives — alongside 'Build with Ukraine' (Ukrainian tech deployed into partner-country production lines, publicly launched separately on Feb 8, 2026) and 'Buy from Ukraine' — Build in Ukraine had drawn more than 25 foreign manufacturers into localized production, repair, joint-venture, or R&D arrangements on Ukrainian soil by late 2025, including BAE Systems (L119 howitzer joint production/maintenance), Rheinmetall (armored-vehicle repair and production facilities), Saab (air-defense joint production), and Northrop Grumman (ammunition joint production), alongside Njord Technology's MAUL co-production with AIDronesUA.
Program detail
- Agency
- Ukraine Ministry of Defence
- Acronym
- Budget
- Phase
- Active — 25+ foreign manufacturers at varying implementation stages as of 2026
- Domain
- Defense-industrial localization / co-production initiative
Participants2
- CompanyNjord TechnologySwedish autonomous-vehicle and AI company (member of the Swedish Security and Defence Industry Association, SOFF); partnering with Ukraine's AIDronesUA to co-produce the MAUL ground-robotic evacuation complex in Sweden under the Build with Ukraine initiative.
- CompanyAIDronesUAUkrainian maker of the MAUL ground-robotic evacuation complex, developed with the 1st Separate Medical Battalion for casualty evacuation, logistics and ammunition delivery under fire; agreed with Sweden's Njord Technology in 2026 to produce MAUL outside the range of Russian long-range strikes.
Contracts0
No linked records yet.
Frequently asked
- What is Build in Ukraine?
- Officially launched by Ukraine's Ministry of Defence on October 22, 2025 as part of a trio of distinct defense-industrial initiatives — alongside 'Build with Ukraine' (Ukrainian tech deployed into partner-country production lines, publicly launched separately on Feb 8, 2026) and 'Buy from Ukraine' — Build in Ukraine had drawn more than 25 foreign manufacturers into localized production, repair, joint-venture, or R&D arrangements on Ukrainian soil by late 2025, including BAE Systems (L119 howitzer joint production/maintenance), Rheinmetall (armored-vehicle repair and production facilities), Saab (air-defense joint production), and Northrop Grumman (ammunition joint production), alongside Njord Technology's MAUL co-production with AIDronesUA.
- Which agency runs Build in Ukraine?
- Build in Ukraine is run by Ukraine Ministry of Defence.
Sources & citations4
Each claim links to its underlying source. Confidence reflects how directly the source supports the claim.
- 1
'Build in Ukraine' is an initiative driving the localization of international companies in Ukraine
Ukraine Ministry of Defence: 'Build in Ukraine': An Initiative Driving the Localization of International Companies in UkraineVerified2026-01-01 - 2
'Build (in) Ukraine': Kyiv's new approach to defence industrial cooperation
OSW Centre for Eastern Studies: 'Build (in) Ukraine': Kyiv's New Approach to Defence Industrial CooperationVerified2026-04-27 - 3
On October 22, 2025, Ukraine's MoD announced the official start of the Build in Ukraine initiative.
Asters: Огляд новин у сфері ОПК: запуск Build in Ukraine...Verified2025-10-29 - 4
Build in Ukraine (in-country localization) is distinct from Build with Ukraine (Ukrainian tech deployed into partner-country production lines abroad, publicly launched Feb 8, 2026) and Buy from Ukraine, the three prongs of Ukraine's defense-industrial cooperation strategy as of early 2026.
The Defender: Build in Ukraine, Build with Ukraine, Buy from Ukraine: an explainerVerified2026-02-01