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Ukraine and Pentagon Reportedly Strike First-Ever Military Drone Cooperation Deal
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Ukraine and the United States have signed a bilateral statement of intent establishing a framework for future cooperation on military drone technologies, including the temporary export of Ukrainian unmanned systems to the US for testing, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (Radio Liberty) correspondent Alex Raufoglu, citing two informed sources.
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The document is described as the first agreement of its kind between Kyiv and Washington focused specifically on defense cooperation in the unmanned systems sector.
SCOOP: Ukraine has secured a major deal with Pentagon to allow export of Ukrainian drones for military testing in the U.S, two sources confirm to @RFERL
— Alex Raufoglu (@ralexdc) July 21, 2026
“The deal has been sealed,” one official tells me.
“It’s been signed by both sides” another source confirms
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According to Radio Liberty, the statement of intent creates a legal foundation for future collaboration on aerial, maritime, and ground-based unmanned platforms. One source told the outlet that “the deal is done,” while another confirmed that “it has been signed by both sides.”
The agreement does not automatically authorize procurement or technology transfers. Instead, it establishes a framework that would allow Ukrainian drones to be temporarily exported to the United States, where the Pentagon could evaluate them under military testing programs.
According to Radio Liberty, the results are expected to help shape future US military requirements for unmanned systems and could support future joint programs or procurement decisions.
Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reported on July 22 that Ukrainian drone developer UFORCE had signed a separate agreement with US defense company RECONCRAFT to launch production of the combat-proven MAGURA family of naval drones in the United States, highlighting broader efforts to deepen bilateral cooperation on unmanned technologies.
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-9a0518ff12d738260e56e17ccc0ac782.png "A strike drone hangs beneath a high-altitude tethered aerostat before being released. (Source: Under Fire News)")
-72b63a4e0c8c475ad81fe3eed3f63729.jpeg "Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk")