The Washington Post reports.With NATO membership increasingly unlikely, Western allies are shifting to an alternative strategy for Ukraine: channeling billions into its defense industry. The goal is to help Kyiv better repel Russia’s aggression and eventually equip U.S. and European armies with its rapidly advancing military technologies.Launching battle-tested dronesUkraine’s defense sector has grown remarkably since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022. According to the defense minister, domestic production now meets nearly 60% of the army’s needs, up from just 10% three and a half years ago. Kyiv hopes to triple output, both to reduce reliance on foreign partners and to deter future wars.One of the most notable breakthroughs is the R-34 quadcopter drone built by FRDM. The latest model can evade Russian jamming, fly more than 20 kilometers and drop up to six kilograms of guided explosives on tanks and other high-value targets. Its founder, Vadym Yunyk, says production can be scaled almost instantly: “If the government orders 10,000 drones instead of 3,000, I will deliver within a month and a half.”Small Ukrainian first-person-view drones are now responsible for nearly 70% of Russian losses near the front line. At the same time, long-range strike drones have reached over 1,000 kilometers inside Russian territory.“The Ukrainians are the leaders in the world in terms of drone technology,” said Keith Kellogg, the Trump administration’s former special envoy for Ukraine. “We are working with Ukrainians now to make sure we have this drone technology exchange, which I think is very important.”Ukrainian developers boost traditional military waresIt isn’t only drones that showcase Ukraine’s wartime innovation. Defense companies are also producing upgraded armored vehicles designed to withstand Russian attacks.Ukr Armo Tech, for example, manufactures the Gurza-1 armored personnel carrier with modifications to absorb drone strikes and protect infantry. Its next-generation Gurza-2, more agile and spacious, will soon enter production. In 2024 the company delivered 500 vehicles, with plans to triple capacity.“Even in the traditional subsector of armored vehicles, we are way ahead of some European companies,” said Kyiv-based defense expert Pavlo Verkhniatskyi. “We know the calibers the Russians are using and the munitions they use to penetrate armor — all this knowledge is put into vehicles produced here.”Ukraine bets on European investment to deter RussiaWestern governments increasingly see Ukraine’s defense industry as both a partner and a shield for Europe. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said greater investment could turn Ukraine into a “steel porcupine” — too bristling with weapons to be attacked.President Volodymyr Zelenskyy argues that Ukraine can produce up to $30 billion worth of weapons annually — triple today’s level. But financing is key. Beyond donations, Kyiv is seeking licensing deals and joint ventures with Western companies to combine Ukraine’s battlefield-tested designs with European capacity.Arsen Zhumadilov, head of the state procurement agency, said cooperation is the most effective path: “When they enter the market, they invest into production, and then their governments pay for our ability to buy it and deliver it to the battlefield.”Denmark has already broken ground by directly funding Ukrainian defense companies. It is also working with Ukraine to produce missile and drone components at a Danish factory, out of reach of Russian strikes. Britain and Germany are preparing similar projects.Meanwhile, a coalition of countries including Denmark, Sweden, Canada, Norway and Iceland has pledged €1.3 billion to fund Ukrainian production of artillery, drones, missiles and anti-tank systems.Wartime innovation hubFor Ukraine, investment is about more than survival. Defense companies are turning battlefield necessity into a global export opportunity. Short production cycles, rapid integration of soldier feedback and an emphasis on artificial intelligence and robotics have made Ukrainian weapons competitive far beyond its borders.“Robots should die in the front lines, not people,” says FRDM’s Yunyk, summing up the philosophy driving Ukraine’s military innovation.