Ukraine and France to Launch Joint Grant Program for Defense Innovations – Brave France

Ukraine and France are expanding their partnership in defense technologies by creating a joint grant program for innovation.

The defense-tech cluster Brave1 reported the initiative.

The cooperation aims to open new opportunities for both Ukrainian and French defense companies.

To implement the program, Brave1 and the French Defense Innovation Agency have already signed a Letter of Intent.

The project, called Brave France, is scheduled to launch in the second quarter of 2026.

The initiative will support the development of Ukrainian and French defense innovations, organize hackathons to identify practical solutions, and provide support for startups. Innovations under the program are expected to be tested through the Test in Ukraine platform.

“This partnership provides Ukraine with access to advanced technologies from its allies, while the French side gains insights into high-tech warfare experience that cannot be replicated elsewhere,” Brave1 shared.

The next steps include agreeing on priority topics and establishing a joint coordination body.

In addition, the parties will develop a financing mechanism and plan further activities under the grant program.

It was recently announced that Ukrainian UAVs will receive reconnaissance SAR radars from the French company Harmattan AI, capable of operating even in cloud or fog conditions.

The radars use microwave imaging to produce high-resolution maps of the Earth’s surface.

The company’s CEO noted that European manufacturers can learn from individual Ukrainian systems and producers with experience in years of conflict — not only since 2022, but dating back to 2014.