At this year’s "International Aerospace Exhibition (ILA)" in Berlin (June 10-14), Airbus Defence and Space and leading Ukrainian technological defence company SkyFall signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch a strategic partnersh ip. As a drone pioneer, SkyFall combines rapid prototyping with serial manufacturing to deliver advanced unmanned aerial systems for combat missions, logistics, and military reconnaissance. The signing took place in the presence of German Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius. 

The partnership reinforces the protection of Ukraine's airspace against drone and missile strikes and strengthens Ukraine as a leading European centre for defence innovation. The initiative will accelerate the European defence ecosystem by combining extensive Western systemic defence expertise with battle-proven technological agility and effectiveness to foster next-generation defence frameworks.

The joint initiative directly supports the overarching goals of the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI), Europe's joint air defence framework, and underscores the vital importance of European technological sovereignty. Furthermore, the alliance strengthens collective deterrence and long-term industrial solidarity by bringing advanced Ukrainian defence technologies to the European market.