The Ukrainian Defence Industry Joint Stock Company and Thales S.A. have signed an agreement to establish a joint venture. The aim is to create advanced technological solutions and provide optimised and operational support in the areas of air defence, radar systems, electronic warfare, tactical communications and optoelectronic systems.

The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in the presence of Herman Smetanin, Minister of Strategic Industries of Ukraine.

"The Ukrainian Defence Industry has been cooperating with Thales International SAS for a long time, and I am pleased that this cooperation is deepening to the point of establishing a joint venture. I am grateful to our partners for their support of our defence industry and courage to work in Ukraine," said Herman Smetanin.

"The practical consequences of the partnership with Thales International SAS will be a tighter protection of Ukrainian skies from russian threats and the acquisition of new experience in working with the most advanced technologies by our weapons manufacturers. This is another step towards creating the Arsenal of the Free World on the basis of our defence industry," said Oleh Hulyak, Director General of the Ukrainian Defence Industry Joint Stock Company.