UFORCE, a Ukrainian-founded defence technology company headquartered in London, has secured $700 mn in Series A financing at a valuation of $6 bn. The investment will support production of autonomous military systems, AI software and command-and-control technology across Ukraine and allied markets.
The round was co-led by Valor Equity Partners and the UK National Wealth Fund (NWF), with participation from the U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund (URIF). Other investors included Menlo Ventures, Xantium and Hiro Capital, alongside existing backers Shield Capital, Ballistic Ventures, Lakestar and Squadra.
- UFORCE raised $700 mn at a $6 bn valuation, backed by major US, UK, European and Asian investors.
- The financing will expand manufacturing and R&D for MAGURA maritime drones, NEMESIS aerial platforms, LIUT ground robots and PREDATOR counter-drone systems.
- Investment from the U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund will support Ukrainian operations, while international expansion will strengthen production capacity in allied countries.
UFORCE plans to expand manufacturing across the US, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, while increasing production of autonomous platforms already deployed in Ukraine.
The company develops unmanned systems operating across maritime, aerial and ground environments, supported by AI-enabled software and integrated command-and-control (C2) infrastructure. Its stated objective is to make defensive operations substantially less expensive than offensive military action.
UFORCE expands autonomous defence manufacturing worldwide
UFORCE will use the financing to establish distributed production capacity across the US, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, allowing military equipment to be manufactured closer to its intended deployment areas.
The strategy is designed to maintain uninterrupted supplies of unmanned systems despite ongoing attacks against Ukrainian industrial infrastructure.
The $700 mn investment will finance additional manufacturing capacity, research and development, and new versions of the company’s MAGURA, NEMESIS, LIUT and PREDATOR defence platforms.
UFORCE also plans to work with international partners to repurpose existing maritime and automotive manufacturing facilities for military production.
The company recently announced an agreement with ReconCraft to expand US manufacturing of MAGURA unmanned surface vessels. The partnership is intended to make Ukrainian combat-tested maritime technology available to international customers.
UFORCE will continue developing partnerships within NATO and Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) networks while expanding its involvement as a founding member of the EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance.
Oleg Rogynskyy, CEO of UFORCE, said Ukraine’s experience demonstrates the need for defence technologies that can be continuously adapted as battlefield threats change.
This investment will help us scale production for Ukraine and bring to allies solutions they can field, integrate and sustain at the speed of modern combat.
Oleg Rogynskyy, CEO of UFORCE,
He added that governments and technology companies must cooperate to develop cost-effective, interoperable autonomous systems capable of responding to current and emerging threats.
UK National Wealth Fund and US-Ukraine fund back UFORCE
The participation of the UK National Wealth Fund and U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund connects the financing round with efforts to expand defence manufacturing and industrial capabilities in both countries.
URIF’s investment will specifically support UFORCE’s Ukrainian operations, including recruitment, research and development, and new product development.
The fund described the transaction as its largest investment in emerging technology to date.
URIF’s financing will remain focused on Ukraine, supporting domestic engineering, employment and the development of military technologies that have already been deployed in combat.
Conor Coleman, Head of Investments at the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, speaking on behalf of URIF, said the investment would help strengthen Ukraine’s economy, security and long-term recovery.
Oliver Holbourn, CEO of the UK National Wealth Fund, said UFORCE’s expansion would bring production and engineering capabilities for combat-tested autonomous systems to Britain.
It will help create high-skilled jobs, strengthen domestic supply chains and reinforce the UK’s position as a leading centre for innovation in technologies that are increasingly important to national security and economic resilience.
Oliver Holbourn, CEO of the UK National Wealth Fund
The investment also includes support from established venture capital firms and existing shareholders, some of which have increased their stakes in the company.
General (Ret.) Christopher G. Cavoli, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe and a partner at Valor Equity Partners, will join UFORCE’s board.
Cavoli said Ukraine had demonstrated how quickly military technology could develop when engineers work directly with the armed forces using their products.
MAGURA maritime drones and NEMESIS UAVs lead UFORCE portfolio
UFORCE develops autonomous systems across three operational domains, supported by software that coordinates their deployment and control.
Its main products include the MAGURA family of unmanned surface vessels, NEMESIS aerial strike platforms, LIUT unmanned ground vehicles and PREDATOR counter-uncrewed aerial system turrets.
The company also develops C2 software to control and coordinate these platforms.
UFORCE says its MAGURA unmanned vessels have contributed to the destruction of more than a dozen Russian warships in the Black Sea and have downed multiple helicopters and fighter aircraft.
Ukrainian forces have also used MAGURA vessels as mobile maritime bases for operations involving different weapons systems.
These missions include launching NEMESIS unmanned aerial vehicles from maritime platforms to conduct long-range strikes against targets such as air defence installations.
NEMESIS Class 1 heavy strike UAVs are designed for both reusable missions and one-way attacks.
According to UFORCE, NEMESIS platforms have completed more than 300,000 combat flights and have been adopted by over 100 Ukrainian military units.
NEMESIS has recorded more than 300,000 combat flights across over 100 military units, providing UFORCE with operational experience as it expands production for international markets.
The LIUT family provides robotic ground capabilities, while PREDATOR systems are designed to counter aerial drones.
Together, these platforms form part of UFORCE’s approach to integrating autonomous equipment with AI software and military command systems.
Ukrainian battlefield technology attracts international investors
UFORCE was founded in Ukraine and maintains major operational hubs in Kyiv and Washington, DC, alongside its London headquarters. The company also operates across Europe, the US and Asia. Its international expansion is intended to combine Ukrainian battlefield experience with manufacturing capacity in allied countries.
Oleksandr Karasevych, State Secretary of Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a board member of URIF, said Ukrainian engineers had developed and adapted unmanned systems under wartime conditions.
Karasevych pointed to MAGURA’s operations against Russian naval vessels and NEMESIS’s extensive battlefield deployment as evidence of the practical capabilities developed by Ukraine’s defence technology sector.
He said the next priority is expanding industrial production so that Ukrainian-developed systems can support national and allied security requirements.
The involvement of investors from Silicon Valley, Europe and Asia provides UFORCE with additional financial resources to support manufacturing, engineering and product development beyond Ukraine.
Cavoli said UFORCE combines operational experience gained during the war with the engineering expertise required to produce and deploy unmanned systems.
The company’s expansion will also involve cooperation with allied manufacturers and defence organisations to adapt production facilities and integrate autonomous platforms into existing military capabilities.
UFORCE’s strategy is to establish production capacity across several regions rather than depend on manufacturing concentrated in Ukraine, where facilities remain exposed to military attacks.
The $700 mn Series A round will support that manufacturing expansion alongside continued research, development and production of the company’s autonomous systems for Ukraine and allied defence customers.
