Sweden’s Saab has signed an agreement with Ukraine to jointly produce air defence systems within Kyiv’s state-led “Build in Ukraine” program. Announced on 22 October 2025, the partnership aims to strengthen Ukraine’s wartime defense-industrial base by localizing production and reducing supply-chain vulnerabilities.
The initiative marks a major step in Ukraine’s transition from a defense end-user to an industrial partner inside Europe’s defense ecosystem. By establishing production lines on Ukrainian territory, the program seeks to shorten delivery timelines, improve sustainment, and build long-term maintenance capacity.
Among Saab’s portfolio, the RBS 70 NG short-range air defence system and Giraffe radar family are viewed as prime candidates for local assembly, as both are already in operational use by Ukrainian forces. Sweden delivered RBS 70 systems in 2022, and Ukrainian crews have been employing them since early 2023.
Localizing production will not only accelerate repair and resupply cycles but also ensure seamless integration with Ukraine’s existing command, control, and communication networks. Economically, it will create skilled jobs, attract investment, and anchor foreign technology transfer into Ukraine’s growing defense sector.
For Saab, the project provides an opportunity to diversify supply chains and expand its footprint in Europe’s most dynamic defense market. Strategically, the initiative underscores international confidence in Ukraine’s ability to sustain advanced defense manufacturing even under wartime conditions, marking a new phase in the country’s evolution from consumer to co-producer.
