STARK scales European footprint with Ukrainian R&D hub and Greek office
STARK, the German unmanned systems developer, has inaugurated a research and development hub in Ukraine and established a new operational office in Greece to strengthen its industrial presence across Europe.
BERLIN / KYIV / ATHENS — German defence technology company STARK announced the opening of a dedicated R&D hub in Ukraine and a regional office in Greece on 13 February, expanding its industrial infrastructure across the continent amid rising demand for autonomous systems.
The Kyiv-area facility spans about 2,000 m² and is expected to support more than 200 engineers and specialists, focusing on research and development, systems integration, training and technical support. STARK characterised the site as critical for shortening the cycle from design to production, leveraging operational feedback from Ukrainian and other frontline users.
In parallel, the company has opened a new office in Greece to serve as a regional hub in Southern Europe, part of wider plans to build a pan-European defence-tech footprint encompassing several countries. STARK has existing offices in Germany, the United Kingdom and Sweden and is positioning Ukraine as a key node linking innovation with local industrial capability.
STARK’s leadership framed the moves as responses to evolving security dynamics following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, emphasising that deterrence requires both technological innovation and resilient production chains. The Ukraine hub is intended to integrate regional supply networks and enable rapid updates to unmanned systems based on real-world battlefield data.
The company is known for developing next-generation unmanned platforms, including the Virtus loitering munition and Vanta unmanned surface vessels, under a unified software architecture designed for distributed operations. it has also drawn significant venture backing and defence contracts since its founding in 2024.
STARK’s expansion is illustrative of broader trends in European defence industrial strategy, where closer collaboration with Ukrainian partners and enhanced regional integration are being pursued to sustain production and adapt capabilities to high-intensity conflict environments.
