BLUF:
Aerostats are taking up their niche in launching deep strikes on Russian infrastructure, transporting different types of drones, carrying them at high altitudes to protect from air defense systems, and sometimes serving as decoys to wear out Russia’s air defense.
Russian air-threat monitoring channels recorded 77 Ukrainian-launched aerostats between Sept. 2025 and May 2026. However, the tactic is too complex to fully replace the use of drones — operations are highly dependent on weather conditions.
Russia is receiving ballistic missiles from North Korea that can fly at higher altitudes than Russian models, making combined attacks significantly harder for Ukraine to repel.
A new procurement system by defense-tech cluster Brave1 automatically matches requests by Ukrainian military units with the lowest-priced suitable offer.
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Why aerostats are becoming a tool in launching deep strikes
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1. How North Korean missiles strengthen attacks on Ukraine
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By: Oksana Zabolotna
Changes to wartime defense procurement procedures
Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministries of Ukraine №957 dated July 15, 2026
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Kateryna Kunytska is starting a new position as head of communications at Ukrainian drone manufacturer TAF Industries.
Vyriy Industries, Ukrainian drone manufacturer, is looking for a miltech product implementation manager.
Trypillian, British-Ukrainian defense tech startup, is looking for a middle system administrator to join its Ukrainian team.
NATO representation to Ukraine is looking for a head of strategic communications.
DevDroid is a manufacturer of combat-proven robotic warfare systems for remote battlefield operations. Now, they are looking to attract investments of up to $10M. According to CEO Yurii Poritskiy, the funding will help scale serial production, localize manufacturing in the EU, expand international sales, and participate in NATO-aligned defense programs.
The company designs and mass-produces reconnaissance, strike, and evacuation UGVs, remote weapon stations, and AI-enabled modular control systems that reduce personnel losses and increase operational efficiency.
Its products are combat-validated, government-adopted, NATO-certified, and integrated with third-party UGV platforms, enabling a scalable B2B model.
The private defense industry is outpacing the state defense sector in terms of supply volumes, according to Serhii Pashynskyi, head of the National Association of Defense Industries (NAUDI). Among Ukraine’s 10 largest defense companies, not one is state-owned, he said in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.
The potential production capacity of Ukraine’s entire defense industry in 2025 was estimated at $35 billion per year but a lack of funding meant production was running at less than a third of full capacity.
Chuyka 3.0 detector drones can now be upgraded without buying a new version of Chuyka, manufacturer BlueBird Tech told The Arsenal. Users can send their devices to the company and engineers add a new band, battery and antenna that expands Chuyka’s frequencies.
France seeks to limit Ukraine’s procurement of weapons from non-European manufacturers using European credit funds, in an effort to boost European defense manufacturers.
Zelenskyy has outlined plans to compete with Russia in the number of long-range strikes it can launch, but called for more funding at a press conference during the Coalition of the Willing meeting on Ukraine’s Independence Day Monday. Ukraine currently faces a defense funding shortfall of around $27 billion. According to Zelensky, the country can produce 200-300 long-range strike drones per day, capable of flying up to 3,000 km. In June, Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) estimated that Russia was producing around 5,000 Shahed drones per month, half of which were decoys.
Slovak authorities have reportedly prevented a planned arson attack on the production facility of Ukrainian drone company Skyeton. Potential targets included up to 70 employees on site, and economic losses worth tens of millions of euros.
