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Himera, Skiftech & More: How Ukraine’s Defense Tech Companies Are Breaking Into the US Market
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![Vlad Litnarovych]( "Vlad Litnarovych")
Four Ukrainian defense companies were awarded contracts by the US Army in March 2025, marking a milestone for Ukraine’s growing military technology sector, according to Forbes Ukraine on March 21.
The recipients include Skiftech, a producer of laser-based military training simulators, Himera , a manufacturer of secure battlefield radios, and two unnamed drone companies. These contracts represent the first publicly disclosed exports of Ukrainian Defense Tech to the US.
According to GovCon Wire, the contract with Skiftech will last until March 5, 2035. In total, the US Department of Defense has allocated $921.1 million for this project.
Ukraine’s defense tech industry has been operating below full capacity due to a lack of domestic government contracts, Forbes reported.
In 2024, Ukrainian electronic warfare and drone manufacturers were only operating at 37% capacity, according to the Technological Forces of Ukraine (TSU).
“If the government lacks resources for long-term contracts, controlled exports are a viable compromise,” TSU’s executive director Kateryna Mykhalko told Forbes Ukraine in February.
Ukrainian startup Himera, known for developing battlefield radios resistant to electronic warfare, has supplied its communication systems to the US Air Force.
In fall 2024, Himera made its first international sale, providing tactical radios to the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).
According to the company, the US military is evaluating the system for potential wider adoption across its forces.
The company has also secured key partnerships:
In April 2024, Himera signed an exclusive deal with US-based Reticulate Micro, a secure communications specialist. Reticulate will market Himera’s battlefield radios to US forces and key international clients.
In February 2025, Himera partnered with Quantropi, a Canadian firm specializing in post-quantum encryption. The collaboration aims to integrate quantum-safe encryption into Himera’s systems, further strengthening their resilience against cyber and electronic warfare threats.
Himera’s flagship G1 PRO radio, along with its R1 and B1 relay stations and E1 internet extenders, will now feature QiSpace-powered quantum encryption from Quantropi.
Under the agreement, Quantropi will be Himera’s exclusive distributor in the US and Canada, with rights to promote the technology across NATO countries.
Tested in combat conditions in Ukraine, Himera’s radios use AES-256 encryption, MESH/MANET networking, and frequency-hopping technology to resist jamming and interception. The G1 PRO, now incorporating quantum-safe encryption, could fill a critical NATO requirement for secure battlefield communication at a competitive cost, said Himera co-founder Misha Rudominsky.
In addition to Himera, Ukrainian company Skiftech has been awarded a contract by the US Army to develop advanced laser-based military training simulators.
This agreement positions Skiftech alongside major global defense contractors such as Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics Mission Systems, Cubic Defense, Saab, Athena Technologies, and Vertex Aerospace.
The contract involves designing and providing technical support for tactical laser training systems that replicate real-world combat scenarios with high precision, improving military training while reducing risks to personnel.
Skiftech specializes in integrated training ecosystems, combining wireless communication and data analytics to evaluate performance. The company’s flagship training tools include:
ORION – a wireless communication system covering training grounds over 25 square kilometers.
Sarmat – a shoot house designed for close-quarters battle training.
Shilka – a training complex simulating the operation of self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon systems.
Skiftech’s systems are already in use by the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the National Guard, with research suggesting that their use can significantly reduce combat casualties.
Earlier, Ukraine’s Air Force provided new details on the combat effectiveness of its upgraded Buk-M1 air defense system, modernized under the FrankenSAM program, which integrates Western missiles into Soviet-era launchers. The system is actively taking down enemy aerial threats on the eastern front.
