Ukraine’s experience shows how quickly technologies, tactics and military requirements can change. Ahead of his keynote at the German-Norwegian Defence Dialogue 2026, Mykyta Rozhkov, CBDO of the Ukrainian defence tech company Frontline Robotics, explains what Europe can learn from Ukraine, why industrial capacity matters, and how cooperation with Germany and Norway could strengthen European security.
At the German-Norwegian Defence Dialogue, you will speak about Ukraine as an innovation hub for Europe’s security. What can European countries learn from Ukraine?
Mykyta Rozhkov: One lesson has become clear: unmanned systems are crucial in modern wars. But it is not simply a question of deploying large numbers of drones. How they are used is just as important. You can learn which button to press from a manual. Planning an operation and responding to developments on the battlefield are different matters. That is where NATO militaries can learn from Ukraine.
But there is something else that’s even more important.
What is that?
Ukraine was forced to establish an innovative and integrated industry for unmanned vehicles and drones under wartime conditions. Europe has the opportunity to build comparable capabilities without currently being engaged in an open war. It should make use of that opportunity.
A European drone industry is beginning to emerge. In Germany, companies such as STARK Defence and Quantum Systems are driving development. Is Europe moving quickly enough?
The development is moving in the right direction. Frontline Robotics, for example, works closely with Quantum Systems through Quantum Frontline Industries (QFI), a Ukrainian-German joint venture. Together, we established a production facility in Munich less than six months after the project started. The contracted production volume for this year is 10,000+ Linza 3.0 drones developed by Frontline Robotics, and we are on track to meet this commitment. That is an important achievement, but it is far from enough. Europe needs to scale its industrial capacity much faster if it wants to be prepared for conflicts in which unmanned systems play a central role.
Of course, close cooperation and knowledge-sharing with countries such as Ukraine are still essential. But only importing technology will not be sufficient. Europe needs its own large-scale unmanned-systems industry, including European value chains and innovation hubs.
Why is a European industrial base so important?
The battlefield is evolving rapidly, and the technologies required are changing with it. To remain effective, you must be able to develop technologies quickly and cost-effectively, adapting them to the situation on the battlefield. I’ll give you an example:
Consider interceptor drones, which are designed to combat other drones. Only six months ago, they were regarded as one of the most important capabilities in a modern conflict. Ukraine has used them, among other purposes, to intercept the slow Shahed drones attacking our cities at night.
But interceptor drones alone are no longer sufficient. The aggressor has modified its drones by equipping them with jet turbines, allowing them to reach speeds of around 500 kilometres per hour – too fast for conventional interceptor drones.
What is needed now are small, cost-effective missiles that can be produced and deployed at scale. Industry must be capable of responding to such changes quickly and in large quantities, and in the best case, at low costs. Without an established domestic industrial base, that is impossible.
Frontline Robotics is already cooperating with partners in Germany. What opportunities do you see in Norway?
We also have projects in Norway. Together with a Norwegian company, we are working on unmanned maritime and aerial vehicles. One of our projects brings together Norwegian and Ukrainian naval expertise to develop an autonomous vehicle for protecting maritime infrastructure. The Ukrainian side contributes military-driven products and operational experience, while Norway provides high-end technologies and components, such as advanced sensors.
This combination creates significant potential. Ukraine has direct knowledge of how unmanned systems perform under battlefield conditions, while Norway offers advanced technical know-how, for example in sensors and maritime systems. It is a highly complementary collaboration. Combining this with Germany’s industrial experience and capabilities would unleash immense potential.
Which technologies will have the greatest impact on future defence operations?
It is difficult to predict individual technologies, but the future clearly lies in unmanned systems. The Ukrainian Armed Forces have fewer personnel today than they did three years ago, yet the line of combat is more stable. A major reason for that is the use of robots and drones. Our team has been working with these systems across aerial and ground robotic platforms for more than ten years, and we have long anticipated this development.
How are robots and drones changing the battlefield?
In Ukraine, a danger zone has emerged around the front. It currently extends approximately 15 kilometres on either side, creating a zone around 30 kilometres wide in which drones dominate. Unmanned aerial systems provide transparency over the battlefield and engage enemy forces. But aerial dominance alone is not enough. Ground presence is still required, as are technologies capable of engaging enemy drones kinetically.
This danger zone is likely to expand. Next year, it could extend to between 20 and 25 kilometres on either side of the front. In the near future, we may need robotic systems capable of operating over distances of up to 100 kilometres, as well as short-range air-defence systems and autonomous platforms that can hold ground until personnel are able to enter the area. The central objective is to replace humans wherever the level of danger is particularly high.
Will greater autonomy also change how these systems are operated?
Yes. At present, operating a drone requires an average of around two and a half people. In the future, one operator may be able to control ten drones. That shift will allow armed forces to operate many more platforms while reducing personnel requirements and limiting human exposure in the most dangerous areas.
At Frontline Robotics, we see considerable potential for closer collaboration with both Germany and Norway. The scientific and technological potential of these partnerships has not yet been fully realised, and we look forward to helping unlock it. Frontline Robotics aims to be at the forefront of European industrial defence cooperation.
The German-Norwegian Defence Dialogue 2026 takes place on 23 September 2026 at the Radisson Blu Hotel Trondheim Airport. The conference brings together government and industry representatives to discuss bilateral defence cooperation, unmanned systems, lessons from Ukraine and European industrial resilience. Find out more here.
We also offer a study trip on the Public Procurement Processes of the Bundeswehr in October 2026 and to the EnforceTac fair in 2027. More information to follow.