Ukroboronprom Signs Cooperation Agreement With Airbus

Ukraine’s state defense conglomerate, JSC Ukrainian Defense Industry (Ukroboronprom), has signed a memorandum of cooperation with European aerospace company Airbus.

The agreement was announced by Ukroboronprom’s press service following its signing at the Paris Air Show 2025.

Under the memorandum, Airbus and Ukrainian enterprises will begin joint training of specialists in maintenance and repair of Airbus-manufactured aircraft operated in Ukraine.

As part of the agreement, the Airbus representatives are expected to visit Ukraine to form groups of domestic specialists who will study technical documentation and undergo training to eventually receive instructor qualifications.

“Trust in our defense industry, particularly in Ukroboronprom and its enterprises, is growing among leading global tech companies. This shows we’re on the right path in terms of development and international cooperation,” said Ukroboronprom General Director Oleh Huliak. “We’re confident that new, promising partnerships in aviation and other areas of the company’s work lie ahead.”

Airbus helicopters in Ukraine

In March 2018, Ukraine signed a contract to procure 55 Airbus helicopters for agencies under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, including the National Police, State Emergency Service, and National Guard. The agreement included the delivery of 21 H225 helicopters, 10 H145s, and 24 H125s.

The €555 million contract covered aircraft procurement, technical support, and training for both pilots and maintenance personnel.

Financing came in part from a group of French banks and the French Treasury via medium-term loans.

The first two helicopters, both H225s, arrived in Ukraine in December 2018. One was delivered to the State Emergency Service (tail number ‘51’) and the other to the National Guard (‘10’). However, the full contract was not completed before the Russian full-scale invasion in 2022, and further deliveries were suspended.

In 2024, the order was revised, and five H145 helicopters were allocated to the State Emergency Service in place of H225s.

Plans for a maintenance center in Ukraine, originally intended to service both domestic and international aircraft, also stalled. Under the original agreement, the Airbus specialists were to train Ukrainian technicians over a one-year period. The new memorandum likely revives that initiative.

The helicopters already delivered to Ukraine are actively used in operations against Russian forces, including for casualty evacuation, Russian attacks response, and even intercepting Iranian-made Shahed drones.