he United States and Ukraine have signed a bilateral letter of intent establishing the framework for a new defense partnership that will allow Ukrainian combat drones to be exported to the U.S. for military testing and evaluation, according to two sources familiar with the agreement.
The sources, who spoke to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the document has been signed by both sides.
“The agreement has been reached,” one official said, while a second source confirmed that the letter of intent had been formally signed.
The document marks the first agreement of its kind between Washington and Kyiv and lays the groundwork for future cooperation in drone technology. It represents a significant breakthrough after months of negotiations aimed at expanding defense industry ties as the Pentagon seeks access to Ukraine’s battlefield-tested innovations developed during more than four years of full-scale war with Russia.
Under the framework, Ukraine will be able to export ground, aerial, and maritime drone systems to the United States for military testing and evaluation, potentially influencing future Pentagon procurement decisions.
Although the letter of intent is not a production contract, it is viewed as the first concrete step toward broader cooperation that could eventually include the joint production of Ukrainian-designed combat drones on U.S. soil.
The agreement comes as the Pentagon accelerates efforts to strengthen its unmanned capabilities under its new “Drone Dominance” initiative.
According to RFE/RL, the planned framework will enable the U.S. military to request specific Ukrainian drone platforms for testing and assessment rather than operational deployment.
Defense analysts say the deal could significantly deepen military-industrial cooperation between the two countries.
“This is a giant step forward for American defense,” Dan Rice, president of the American University Kyiv and a former special adviser to the commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces, told RFE/RL.
“For five years, I’ve argued that the United States needs a cultural shift to learn from Ukraine. This is the first real step.”
Daniel Balson, director of the nonprofit organization Razom for Ukraine, described Ukrainian drone technology as one of the country’s most valuable defense exports.
“Ukrainian drones are among the best in the world. They are battlefield-tested, combat-proven, and the product of some of the most innovative minds in modern warfare,” Balson said.
Ukrainian Maritime Drones to Be Manufactured in the U.S.
The agreement follows another major defense industry development announced on July 21, when the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington confirmed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Ukrainian autonomous systems developer UFORCE and U.S. shipbuilder ReconCraft.
The partnership will bring Ukraine’s battlefield-tested MAGURA autonomous maritime drones to the United States and expand cooperation on naval and ground unmanned systems.
Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Olha Stefanishyna expressed confidence that the agreement would encourage more companies to deepen U.S.-Ukraine defense cooperation.
Under the deal, Oregon-based ReconCraft will work with UFORCE to manufacture MAGURA maritime drones in the United States, with production expected to scale from hundreds to thousands of units that could eventually be procured by the U.S. Navy.
Sean Plankey, head of U.S. operations for UFORCE, said the project combines Ukraine’s battlefield experience with America’s industrial capacity, helping make proven autonomous capabilities available to U.S. forces.
For Washington, the partnership provides access to low-cost, rapidly evolving drone technology at a time when the Pentagon is expanding its unmanned capabilities in response to growing security challenges posed by Russia, China, and Iran.
For Ukraine, the agreement marks another significant step toward integrating its defense industry into Western procurement and manufacturing networks while opening long-term opportunities for Ukrainian defense companies in global supply chains.
