International Defence Industries Forum

The International Defence Industries Forum (DFNC1) is an initiative of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy to build the necessary arsenal to ensure security. The first forum was held on 29 September 2023 in Kyiv and was attended by more than 30 countries and 250 defence companies, including the US Raytheon, French Nexter and MBDA, Turkish Baykar Makina, German Rheinmetall AG and others. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also spoke at the forum.

The forum aims to bring together Ukrainian and foreign arms manufacturers for joint and long-term systematic strengthening of the world's defence capabilities, including Ukraine's. Participants will be able to exchange technologies, experience in system maintenance and repair of equipment, agree on joint production, and strengthen the defence potential of both Ukraine and its allies based on NATO technologies and weapons.

History
Volodymyr Zelenskyy first spoke about the forum on 23 August 2023 at a joint press conference with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo in Kyiv. On 16 September, Zelenskyy said that "interest in the forum is very high and 86 leading defence companies from 21 countries have already confirmed their participation in the event", and on 25 September, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that 165 defence companies from 26 countries had confirmed their participation in the forum.

On the day of the forum, 29 September, Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the creation of the Alliance of Defence Industries, which can be joined by arms and military equipment manufacturers from around the world, and the world's first fleet of maritime drones.

"We have developed a Basic Declaration as the foundation of the Alliance, which can be joined by arms and military equipment manufacturers around the world who share our intention to provide protection against aggression in today's risky environment."

- Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Participants


The First International Defence Industries Forum (DFNC1) brought together 252 companies from over 30 countries producing a full range of weapons, military equipment and defence systems in Kyiv. The forum was jointly organised by three ministries: The Ministry of Strategic Industries, the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The event was attended by manufacturers of tanks, artillery, drones, ammunition, innovative software developers and owners of unique sophisticated technologies from partner countries. The forum was also attended by Ukrainian state-owned and private defence companies, both large groups of companies and defence-tech start-ups.

The forum was opened by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The forum was addressed by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Minister for Strategic Industries Oleksandr Kamyshin, and Presidential Administration chairman Andriy Yermak. Earlier, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, the new UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, and French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu arrived in Kyiv on unannounced visits.

Special video messages were delivered by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell and representatives of partner countries. Eric Schmidt, founder of Schmidt Futures, delivered a speech. The forum's honorary speakers were Slovak Defence Minister Martin Sklenár and NATO Deputy Secretary General Wendy Gilmore.

Among the arms manufacturers participating in the forum were Nicolas Chamussey, CEO of the French defence manufacturer Nexter Group, Sam Deneke, Vice President of the Land and Air Defence Business at Raytheon, Florent Dulier, Export Sales Director of MBDA Group, Haluk Bayraktar, CEO of Baykar Makina, Turkey, Maximilian Froh, Director of International Strategic Programmes at Rheinmetall AG, and others.

Results
As part of the forum, the Ukrainian side signed 20 documents with foreign partners. These include agreements and memoranda on the manufacture of drones, repair and production of armoured vehicles and ammunition. The formats of cooperation include joint production, technology exchange, and the supply of components. Australia has announced plans to build defence enterprises in Ukraine, it plans to organise the production of drones, and the Czech Republic is considering the production of CZ Bren 2 rifles and Tatra vehicles in Ukraine.

As a result of the forum, it became known that the Turkish company Baykar Makina will invest $100 million in Ukraine to implement three projects. This was announced by the company's CEO Haluk Bayraktar:

"We have three major investments in Ukraine – a plant, a service centre, and a head office here. This is an investment of about $100 million, and the process is already underway."

- Haluk Bayraktar

The Ukrainian state-owned enterprise Antonov has signed an agreement with French company Turgis & Gaillard to produce multifunctional drones based on the French Aarok. The agreement was signed during the visit of French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu to Ukraine for the International Forum of Defence Industries. He came to Kyiv with representatives of about 20 French companies specialising in the production of military equipment.

The German concern Rheinmetall AG and the Ukrainian Defense Industry have formed a joint venture. It will provide maintenance and repair of equipment supplied by the partners to Ukraine.