The domestic defense industry has at least three notable advantages: manufacturing companies pay taxes in Ukraine, which supports our economy, weapons produced by domestic companies have been tested in combat over 10 years of war and are cheaper than foreign counterparts.

This was stated by Vladyslav Belbas, director general of Ukrainian Armor LLC, during the discussion “Ukrainian weapons. Is Ukraine capable of a technological leap?” on the Ukrainian Pravda talk show.

According to him, the domestic military industrial complex now produces more than the state can buy, so it is necessary to look for additional opportunities to ensure their development.

“Enterprises have to work, they have to produce what they can to the highest possible extent. In order for the industry to develop, it is necessary to either raise funds and load these enterprises so that they load their capacities, or give them the opportunity to work freely – to open exports. A good way out of the current situation is direct financing of Ukrainian producers by foreign donors,” Belbas said.

The director general of Ukrainian Armor also calls for reducing bureaucracy in the defense sector, as it is a serious barrier to development.

“We need to simplify the bureaucracy, and it will be easier for both manufacturers and the military. It was much easier to work at the beginning of 2022, when everyone was producing, developing, supplying, communicating – but then the bureaucracy came back and raised its head…” he states.