3rd Assault Brigade launches a startup accelerator to support combat testing of defence technologies

The 3rd Separate Assault Brigade of Armed Forces of Ukraine (3rd SAB) launches a project called AB3 Tech, aimed at collaborating with companies in the defence tech sector. The platform will support developers of defence technologies in testing their products under real combat conditions, creating promotional videos, and fundraising.

There has been no official announcement of the initiative, but AB3 Tech already has a website and a LinkedIn page. The 3rd SAB’s press office did not respond to a request for comment from Defender Media, sent on 20 May.

The brigade has only mentioned the project once on its social media—back in March 2025, it reported that at the “Arsenal of Talents” exhibition, it had “presented its own developments from the AB3Tech design bureau.” The project is also listed as a partner of the European Defence Tech Hackathon, currently taking place in Lviv.

According to the project website, since March the 3rd SAB’s design bureau has significantly expanded the range of its services. Described on the landing page as a “startup studio, accelerator, 
and Community within the Third Assault Brigade”, AB3 Tech claims the expertise of its military professionals, engineers, and entrepreneurs will help start-ups, investors, and defence companies accelerate market entry, test products in real combat conditions, and secure funding.

What services does AB3 Tech offer defence companies?

The AB3 Tech website outlines several services for defence technology developers. First and foremost is military products testing as a service. Developers are promised real-life combat testing with rapid feedback and practical insights from the experienced soldiers.

The second service is startup acceleration for early-stage defence tech firms. AB3 Tech offers collaboration to pre-seed and seed startups whose fundraising could benefit from brigade-issued letters of interest.

AB3 Tech also provides defence businesses with a promotional content production service—offering authentic footage of defence products operating in real combat scenarios, as well as testimonial videos featuring feedback from Ukrainian soldiers.

AB3 Tech’s pioneering business model has drawn attention from industry figures, including Genesis Tech’s Chief of Stuff, Serhii Stupak. In his view, the model is bound to become a case study in business schools and marketing textbooks. “Unbelievable that a military unit that fights Russians every day is offering ‘brigade-issued letters of interest to help with fundraising’ as a service”, he wrote.

Stupak believes that Western defence tech companies no longer have any excuse to avoid validating their products in actual combat scenarios.