The US wants access to Ukrainian technology as part of a drone deal – Bloomberg
Kyiv • UNN
The US plans to test Ukrainian drones for procurement by its own army. The agreement provides for access to technologies and intellectual property rights.
The US seeks to gain access to Ukrainian military technologies and intellectual property rights as part of a potential drone deal. This was reported by Bloomberg, citing sources familiar with the negotiations, according to UNN.
Details
According to the agency, the US Department of Defense has requested to test a range of Ukrainian defense developments, including drones and electronic warfare systems. Washington is considering the possibility of further purchasing these products for the American military.
Bloomberg's interlocutors note that the deal has not yet been approved at the political level, and negotiations remain closed. Meanwhile, Kyiv insists that Ukrainian weapons have already "undergone large-scale combat testing" during the war with Russia.
The US wants to test Ukrainian technologies independently
According to Bloomberg, Washington seeks to conduct its own tests of Ukrainian systems before making procurement decisions. Furthermore, the US is allegedly interested in access to "critical technologies and, potentially, intellectual property rights," which would allow for the reproduction of Ukrainian developments.
Ukraine's Ambassador to the US, Olha Stefanishyna, confirmed that the parties are working on a framework document.
We strive for mutually beneficial cooperation that will strengthen the power of our armed forces
Bloomberg notes that the US is particularly interested in Ukrainian non-GPS navigation technologies, secure communication channels, AI-based drone control systems, and combat experience in drone deployment. Earlier, US Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll called the Ukrainian drone network management system "absolutely incredible" and admitted that the US Army does not yet have analogous solutions.