Ukraine-founded UK-based UFORCE Secures $700 Million in Funding

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On November 12, Ukrainian unmanned systems company UFORCE announced the completion of a $700 million Series A funding round, reaching a company valuation of $6 billion. The company was founded by a Ukrainian team and is currently headquartered in London, UK. The round was co-led by US-based Valor Equity Partners and the UK National Wealth Fund, with proceeds to be used to expand R&D and production capacity for unmanned surface vessels, unmanned aerial vehicles, and ground unmanned systems.

The UK National Wealth Fund invested £113 million (approximately $150 million) in this round, marking its largest defense-sector investment to date. The funds will support UFORCE in expanding UK-based production, engineering R&D, and delivery capabilities, covering the MAGURA series of unmanned surface vessels and the NEMESIS unmanned aerial vehicle products. The company plans to add hundreds of engineering, software, artificial intelligence, and advanced manufacturing positions in the UK, and to collaborate with local universities and vocational institutions on specialized talent training.

Manufacturing localization is a key element of this investment. UFORCE plans to repurpose existing capacity at some maritime and automotive manufacturing enterprises for unmanned systems production, expanding allied supply chain participation. Under arrangements disclosed by the UK National Wealth Fund, more than 70% of the product value of UK-manufactured MV-series unmanned surface vessels will come from UK suppliers, with hulls, engines, electronics, and internal assembly all planned to be procured and completed in the UK. This arrangement integrates UK-based manufacturers into the unmanned surface vessel production supply system, rather than having them perform final assembly only.

UFORCE's current product portfolio covers maritime, aerial, and ground unmanned systems, including the MAGURA unmanned surface vessel, the NEMESIS unmanned aerial vehicle, the LIUT ground robot, and the PREDATOR counter-UAS system, while also developing artificial intelligence software and command-and-control systems for multi-platform coordination. This round of funding will also be used for R&D and capacity expansion of the above product lines. Among these, US-based ReconCraft has established a partnership with UFORCE and plans to expand MAGURA unmanned surface vessel manufacturing capacity in the United States. The company will also continue to participate in the EU-Ukraine Drone Coalition and related international industrial cooperation.

UFORCE plans to adopt a multi-regional manufacturing layout, maintaining continuous production in Ukraine while distributing new capacity across US, European, Asia-Pacific, and Middle Eastern markets. Funding from the US-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund will be used for local staffing, R&D, and new product development in Ukraine; the UK National Wealth Fund's investment focuses on UK manufacturing, engineering, and supply chain development. The funding arrangements of different investors correspond respectively to Ukrainian R&D and production and UK domestic industrial expansion.