Defence firms turn to Ukraine for real-world testing

A widening group of companies, including Swedish electronic warfare specialists, are using Ukraine as a live environment to refine systems

By Erik Holm

April 7, 2026 9:58 AM

Western companies are increasingly testing new technology in Ukraine.

And according to Swedish broadcaster SVT, a handful of the more than one hundred participating companies are Swedish, although no official data exists.

One of them is Oscilion, a Kista, Stockholm-based company specialising in electronic warfare solutions. The company has tested its counter-UAS system in Ukraine, making incremental improvements as a result.

- It gives us an opportunity to test the system against real drones used by Russia and operated by skilled drone pilots. This is the only way to verify that the system works as intended, said chief executive Fredrik Bergman.

According to Brave1, a Ukrainian government-backed defence innovation platform, more than one thousand companies are waiting in line for what it describes as a unique opportunity to test systems and stay ahead of the development curve.

Swedish companies conducting trials in Ukraine do so in coordination with national authorities. In many cases, the intention is for the equipment to be donated subsequently as part of Sweden’s military support to Ukraine.

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