Denys Gurak’s Post

The MITS Forum: U.S. - Ukraine Defense Tech Partnership united nearly 300 participants to discuss current challenges and define strategies to enhance Ukraine's defense capabilities as an asset for the democratic world. We explored innovative solutions, strategic partnerships, and the development of a thriving startup ecosystem. Main topics: - Ukrainian Defense Technology Innovations; - Ukraine Manufacturing & Geopolitical Impact; - Forbes USA & Forbes Ukraine Live Interview with Military Experts; - NATO and Ukraine’s Strategic Importance; - US Investments in Ukrainian Defense Tech.  Official Partners: American University Kyiv, American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, BRAND UKRAINE. Learn more about the key takeaways from the MITS Forum on our page.

Air Force's AFWERX program aims to connect with academia and industry to fund tech development WASHINGTON - The AFWERX program, launched by the United States Air Force (USAF) under its Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) division, acts as a catalyst for fostering innovation within the military sphere. Serving as a collaborative platform, it aims to expedite the development of solutions to tackle challenges encountered by the Air Force. AFWERX collaborates with a diverse array of stakeholders - including industry, academia, entrepreneurs, and government entities - to drive advancements in technology and bolster the Air Force's operational capabilities. https://lnkd.in/eXSr-D-M

The former Ambassador of the United States to the Republic of Finland extends congratulations to Sweden for being recognized as a new NATO member. Read his opening remarks published in the guidebook, 'Doing Business With NATO – An Introduction for Small and Midsized Enterprises': “You’re in NATO now Defense contracting is evolving worldwide in many significant ways. Russian war in Ukraine, major increase in global defense spending, the merging of civilian and military technological applications, and new models of collaboration are rebooting the industry. These changes have been amplified and accelerated by the accession of Finland and Sweden to membership in NATO, bringing enhanced scope and broadening the capabilities of the Alliance. This historical point of inflection presents Finnish and Swedish companies with an unprecedented opportunity to form new partnerships and enter new markets. The interest in growing the Alliance’s capabilities is intense. Our Guidebook is designed to help Finnish and Swedish companies take full advantage of this opportunity by providing a basic introduction to their new operating environment. SMEs in all NATO countries can, of course, benefit equally from the same up-to-date information. We extend special thanks to C.E.O. Nina Kopola at Business Finland, C.E.O. Jan Larsson at Business Sweden, and C.E.O. Håkon Haugli at Innovation Norway for their organizations’ generous participation in this undertaking. Miltton USA stands ready, willing, and able to support and assist your company in its entry into the opening markets. We are excited by the prospect of partnering with you in transformative growth, as we contribute together to the strengthening of the ties between our countries through innovation, business, and investment.” Charles C. Adams, Jr. Co-Founder and Board Director, Miltton USA Former Ambassador of the United States to the Republic of Finland Download the guidebook from here: https://lnkd.in/dBfvrBzQ – complimentary.

Enough criticism, I want to give some praise once in a while 😅 Why do I love Ukrainian and the new wave of NATO startups (originating in late 2023 and early 2024). Most importantly, they fully leverage the military and business asymmetric advantage that Ukraine offers. This is what they do exactly: 🚀 Prioritise Ukraine's needs over theoretical and far-from-reality domestic R&D grants - because they understand that the TTPs for modern war are created here. 🚀 Create products around emerging TTPs. 🚀 Learn to build and iterate fast. Any product could become obsolete in as soon as 3 months (military or technical countermeasures). 🚀 Leverage ultra fast feedback loops from sophisticated military end users (who are often former tech and product people and can give high-quality feedback). 🚀 Work on certifying their products in Ukraine by making final stages of production local, in addition to trying to get into military aid packages. This presents a much larger commercial opportunity and generates real validation for further sales inside NATO. Another observation from the past ~8 months of Western startups is that they get founded by younger talent. A big shoutout to Apollo Defense for making defence tech cool again! This is truly the next gen of defence.

Dr. Bogdan Kotnis Unveils NATO's Crumbling Foundations: An Exclusive Insight into Russia's Aggression Description: Join moderator Robert Terzian in an exclusive interview with Dr. Bogdan Kotnis as they delve into the shocking truth behind NATO's evolution from past to present. With compelling interactive maps and historical insights, Dr. Kotnis exposes Russia's aggressive tactics and sheds light on the fractures within NATO, warning of an impending collapse. Gain a deeper understanding of Poland's perspective and the vital role NATO plays amidst growing Russian aggression. Don't miss this crucial discussion on the future of global security.

Interesting article!

While Beijing has voiced concerns about the expansion, viewing it as an attempt by Japan to align more closely with Western powers, analysts suggest that broader participation in AUKUS could help deter China’s assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific. The expansion of AUKUS could potentially include South Korea, Canada, and New Zealand, bringing a diverse set of capabilities and strengths to the pact. This would not only enhance the technological and military interoperability among these nations but also serve as a counterbalance to China’s military posture, especially in contentious zones like the South China Sea and near Taiwan. Experts suggest that this expansion could transform AUKUS from a focused military collaboration into a broader strategic alliance, shaping security outcomes across the Indo-Pacific. https://lnkd.in/guEEse_M

NATO navigates fine line between transparency, information security Read more on the link below. #defense #sbir #military #jointwerx @jointwerx @blackhaysgroup #governmentcontracts #smallbusiness #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #consulting #strategy #leanstartups #startup #growthhacking

10/25/24 Korean News and Commentary https://conta.cc/4e78i1X 1. North Korea has joined Putin’s war effort. A timid West must respond by Mick Ryan 2. Korean Drone Provocation Tied to Russo-Ukraine War 3. Why Is North Korea Deploying Troops to Help Russia? Here’s What to Know. 4. Trilateral Korea-Japan-U.S. Cooperation: Dealing with #NorthKorea-#China Challenges,' edited by @RalphCossa , President Emeritus #PacificForum. 5. The Ukraine War Could Be the Spark to Restart the Korean War 6. The Battle of Restraint: How nuclear weapons almost redefined warfare on the Korean peninsula 7. Putin’s North Koreans now in combat zone, Kyiv says 8. As North Korea sends troops, the Russia-Ukraine war is looking like the laboratory of modern warfare 9. Fighting underground: The US military must learn from Israel's experience 10. Why North Korea's Entry Into The Russia-Ukraine War Is Really About China 11. Fire put out at USFK warehouse in Busan; no casualties reported 12. S. Korean delegation to brief NATO, EU officials on N. Korea's troop deployment to Russia 13. S. Korea, U.S. defense chiefs to hold annual security talks amid N.K.'s troop dispatch to Russia 14. Russia says N. Korean leader Kim's visit to Russia possible next year 15. Polish president tours Hanwha Aerospace operations for K9 howitzers in S. Korea 16. Ukraine urges North Korean soldiers to surrender, offering food, shelter 17. "How will we survive?": No potato rations this year in major North Korean city 18. N. Korea orders border fortification after cutting rail links to S. Korea

Defense tech executives and national security analysts underscored a growing sense of urgency about intensifying, interlinked conflicts across the globe and the need for a more effective U.S. response at the Zero Gravity summit held in Salt Lake City on Oct. 24. Excerpts from my story for Aviation Week Network below: While discussing geopolitical tensions has become boilerplate at aerospace and defense industry gatherings over the past few years, this event coincided with a worrying escalation by Russia in its 33-month war against Ukraine. The U.S. and South Korea assess that 3,000 North Korean soldiers have recently been deployed to Russia for use in combat against Ukraine–and the number could quadruple to 12,000. “Democracies are getting worse at deterrence,” former Deputy National Security Advisor Matt Pottinger said in a panel discussion. He noted that China has continued to increase its support for Russia since its invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022–despite repeated warnings by the Biden administration that high costs would be imposed on Beijing for such behavior. Noting the arrival of North Korean soldiers in Russia, Pottinger, who is now a distinguished visiting fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, described “an axis of chaos” led by Beijing that also consists of Moscow, Pyongyang and Tehran. Given this turbulent situation, defense tech upstarts see an opportunity to take on a more substantial role in not only American national security, but also that of Washington’s allies and partners. Despite some inevitable competition with defense primes, the upstarts recognize areas for cooperation as well. In his keynote, Anduril co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Brian Schimpf was explicit about what he sees as the high stakes in the military’s use of artificial intelligence (AI). “The U.S. has to lead the way” on setting AI defense standards, he said. There is a need for “the right tools and levers to make ethical use of force decisions,” he emphasized. If Washington does not take the lead, China and Russia could be the ones that do, with unsettling implications for the world, Schimpf said. #aerospace #defense #nationalsecurity #technology #military #artificialintelligence #korea #northkorea #china #venturecapital #geopolitics #startups https://lnkd.in/ePSQRHpM