Ukraine’s Brave1 Market has taken orders for more than 903,000 items worth $1.39 billion, with 774,000 items worth $1.15 billion reaching troops by November. The Brave1 defence-tech cluster has also awarded 353 grants worth $67.3 million in 2026, surpassing last year’s funding.
The Marketplace
Those orders do not measure the drones and other equipment soldiers actually hold. The gap matters. The system exists to get technology to a unit. Brave1 Market lets Ukrainian forces choose equipment they need while giving the state a clearer view of demand.
The Funding
Brave1 awarded 289 grants worth $19.7 million in 2024 and 325 worth $60.9 million in 2025. The 2026 grant tally was recorded by November 2. More than 1,000 grants have been made since the cluster was established in 2023.
The Ministry of Defence says 2026 grant funding is already 14.6% above the full-year 2025 total. Its published dollar figures put the increase at about 10.5%.
The Industrial Base
Brave1 now connects 2,500 companies and more than 5,000 defence solutions. Over 600 solutions developed by participants have been codified to NATO standards. Its work extends beyond grants. Developers can seek testing and help with codification, while service members can put forward the problems they need solved. That direct connection is meant to cut the journey from an idea to combat use from years to months.
The expansion in manufacturing is stark.
In 2022, seven companies in Ukraine worked on drones; today there are more than 500. Ukraine produces roughly 10 million drones a year and is aiming for 20 million. Electronic warfare and signals-intelligence manufacturers have grown from 10 to more than 300. Ground-robot developers have gone from a handful to more than 200, and maritime-drone makers from a handful to over 20.
The cluster also includes:
- More than 200 developers of AI-based systems
- 50 missile manufacturers
- Over 40 ammunition manufacturers
With Brave1’s support, Ukrainian teams have attracted more than $450 million in disclosed venture investment. The largest reported round, $50 million, went to British-Ukrainian UForce, the company behind MAGURA maritime drones and NEMESIS heavy bombers.