European company STARK opens research center in Ukraine
European defense company STARK announced the opening of a new R&D center in Ukraine, employing over 200 specialists. The center will work on developments in the field of unmanned systems.
The new Ukrainian center of STARK, measuring around 2000 m2, will be engaged in research, development of unmanned systems, operator training, and providing technical support. The company emphasizes that this will significantly reduce the transition time from designing systems to their production. Moreover, thanks to updates conducted based on real data from the battlefield, the development and adaptation cycle of drones to changes on the front is significantly shortened.
Maksym Cherkis, COO of STARK Ukraine, noted that the current military situation in Europe promotes the rapid development of defense capabilities and stable production. The company sees Ukraine as a strategic partner in forming the new European security architecture and aims not only to develop but also to fully produce drones on Ukrainian territory.
STARK is also opening a new office in Greece, emphasizing the company’s intention to expand its presence in Europe. The company’s CEO, Uwe Horstmann, highlighted the importance of developing local research centers and production to ensure the efficient updating of defense systems.
STARK was founded in 2024 in Germany and specializes in developing unmanned systems for NATO countries and European armed forces. The company has offices in various European cities and employs about 400 staff. To date, it has raised $100 million in funding, including from Project A, NATO Innovation Fund, and Sequoia Capital.
| City | Country | Number of employees |
|---|---|---|
| Berlin | Germany | 100 |
| Munich | Germany | 60 |
| Swindon | United Kingdom | 70 |
| Kyiv | Ukraine | 120 |
| Stockholm | Sweden | 50 |
