BRUSSELS – LA ROCHELLE – KYIV, APRIL 22, 2026 —
In Ukraine, ground robotics is already an everyday operational reality, both for civil security and defense.
Today, on the occasion of the EU-Ukraine Business Forum, the French security and defense startup SHARK ROBOTICS and the Ukrainian leader in ground robots/UGVs, TENCORE, announce the signing of a memorandum of understanding marking a major milestone in industrial cooperation between France and Ukraine in the fields of security and defense. This partnership combines the expertise of the world leader in firefighting robots with that of one of the leading players in defense robotics in Ukraine.
This memorandum represents the first instance of complementary joint ventures being pursued simultaneously in France and Ukraine in the security and defense sector. It exemplifies a new model of industrial cooperation, combining the “Build with Ukraine” (industrial support from another country) and “Build in Ukraine” approaches, with the support of the European Union.
From the Field to Industrialization
For the first time, a French company and a Ukrainian company are joining forces to gather feedback from the battlefield in Ukraine and directly apply it to production and innovation.
Tencore’s technologies have been proven on several thousand “Termit” military robots deployed on the front lines; Shark Robotics, a global leader in ground-based fire safety robots, brings its expertise in extreme environments with the “Colossus” robot, already used by emergency services and industrial operators in more than 25 countries.
This partnership builds on the initial discussions that took place during the meeting on anti-drone resilience held at the Élysée Palace on November 18, 2025, attended by Presidents Macron and Zelensky. It is supported by the European Commission and is part of European efforts to strengthen defense industrial capabilities.
A Franco-Ukrainian partnership ensuring responsiveness and industrial capacity
The partnership is based on the creation of two joint ventures:
- In France: the development and production of defense robots based on feedback from the Ukrainian battlefield, particularly for logistics and medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) purposes. These systems will be designed to meet the needs of the French armed forces and may be provided—as donations—to Ukrainian forces.
- In Ukraine: the establishment of a local industrial and services platform, primarily dedicated to civil security robotics, including maintenance (MRO), training, and the gradual production of certain components, in order to build a more European supply chain and provide long-term support for SESU operations.
This organization aims to ensure both operational responsiveness and industrial capacity. It is in line with the letter of intent signed on February 9, 2026, by the French and Ukrainian Ministers of Defense, as well as the security cooperation agreement signed between France and Ukraine on February 16, 2024.
Security, Resilience and Defense
The systems developed and maintained under this partnership cover the full spectrum of ground robotics missions:
- Defense: logistics in high-risk areas; evacuation of casualties (CASEVAC/MEDEVAC); transport of equipment and payloads; combat support; engineering support, particularly for mine-clearing missions.
- Civil security and resilience: firefighting following strikes, protection of rescue personnel, securing critical infrastructure (energy, transportation, industrial sites), and protection of civilian populations.
These applications, which are currently critical in Ukraine, are becoming increasingly relevant in other regions exposed to similar threats, particularly in the Middle East.
“Just as in Ukraine, Europe must prepare for conflicts where robots will make the difference. This partnership aims to develop the capabilities we will need in the future. The goal is to move quickly, scale up our efforts, and equip Ukrainian and European forces with the means to take action on the ground.”
“In Ukraine, we’re innovating under pressure, in real-world conditions. With Shark Robotics, we’re bringing together defense robotics developed on the battlefield with robotics for civil security and resilience. It is this synergy that makes our partnership so strong.”
About SHARK ROBOTICS
Founded in late 2016 in La Rochelle, Shark Robotics is a French scale-up specializing in terrestrial robotics. Notably, it developed the “Colossus” firefighting robot, which was deployed during the Notre-Dame fire in 2019. Forty Colossus robots were supplied to Ukraine by France in 2025; new deployments are in the works.
In the defense sector, Shark Robotics designed the “Barakuda” multi-mission robot in 2018, which was showcased during the July 14, 2019, parade and is now used in innovation programs by the Ministry of the Armed Forces (the “Pendragon” program).
The company designs and assembles all of its solutions at its factory in La Rochelle.
About TENCORE
Tencore, a Ukrainian scale-up founded in 2024, is one of the leading players in military robotics. Its “Termit” robot—a modular electric platform weighing approximately 600 kg and capable of carrying up to 400 kg of payload—has been deployed in the thousands on the Ukrainian front lines.
Its applications include logistics, medical evacuation, engineering, and fire support. Tencore combines rapid field-based iterations, modular design, and large-scale production, enabling quick adaptation to operational needs.
Termit robot Tencore
colossus-ukraine-fire-response
CEOs of Shark Robotics and Tencore
Colossus-shark-robotics-termit-tencore
Press contacts
Shark Robotics
Mégane Fabre – Marketing & Communiation Manager
megane.fabre@shark-robotics.fr – +33 6.85.55.68.02
Tencore
Yulia Zborovska – Head of PR & communications
info@tencore.com.ua – + 380635889635
