By Raj Shah and Matt Kaplan
Europe has entered a new era of defense industrialization. After decades of de-industrialization, a growing acute threat on NATO’s eastern flank, and the recognition that Europe must reclaim its strategic autonomy, governments across the continent are committing historic resources to rebuild capacity and procure commercial technology.
Yet while funding is accelerating, Europe’s defense industrial base remains poorly positioned to deliver scalable capability at speed. On the one hand, incumbent primes build incumbent systems. Ministries of defense must complement these with the systems that are essential for future conflict: commercial capabilities in maritime security, air defense, and affordable autonomy. On the other hand, Europe’s defense industrial base remains poorly positioned to deliver capability at scale. Key to Europe’s success at countering Russia is both sides of this coin: conflict-proven commercial technology and the ability to manufacture it at scale.
Leading the world in generating both of these things today is Ukraine. The war has compressed decades of learning and manufacturing into a few years, particularly in autonomy, electronic warfare, and attritable systems. Companies whose technologies have been built at scale, deployed with effect, and iterated under live combat conditions possess insights that cannot be replicated through testing or simulation alone. Europe now understands that rebuilding modern defense capability requires integrating technologies proven on the battlefield in Ukraine.
UFORCE builds some of the most consequential autonomous systems in the Russia-Ukraine War. Its platforms have executed tens of thousands of real missions in highly contested environments, informing not just autonomy software but manufacturing, deployment, and sustainment at scale.
The Ukrainian government has recognized that exporting defense technology is a clear path to supporting the allies that supported it and rebuilding a resilient economy for the day their conflict ends. Last week, President Zelensky announced Ukraine would open 10 defense export hubs throughout Europe. In turn, UFORCE is expanding to NATO allies and the U.S., where it will bring scalable, combat-proven systems to an industrial base in dire need. CEO Oleg Rogynskyy, former founder & CEO of People AI, joined the company to lead this international expansion and couple advanced AI software with UFORCE’s proven hardware.
Shield Capital is proud to co-lead the Seed round in UFORCE alongside Lakestar. Our investment reflects our conviction in supporting a generational rebuild of Europe’s industrial base, its need for proven technology, and the security of U.S. allies. Mission Matters.