# Why Do Many Western Defense Tech Firms Struggle in Ukraine?

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/war-on-the-rocks-935230/why-do-many-western-defense-tech-firms-struggle-in-ukraine
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/war-on-the-rocks-935230/why-do-many-western-defense-tech-firms-struggle-in-ukraine.md
Podcast: [War on the Rocks](https://stenobird.com/podcast/war-on-the-rocks-935230)
Published: 2026-04-23T15:14:00+00:00
Episode link: https://warontherocks.libsyn.com/why-do-many-western-defense-tech-firms-struggle-in-ukraine
Audio file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/warontherocks/WOTR_Kofman_April_22_V2.mp3?dest-id=298196
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Duration seconds: 1473

## Resource

Michael Kofman joined Ryan at a live event earlier this year to discuss the performance of American defense technology in Ukraine and why it often falls short. They examine the challenges of fielding and iterating systems in combat, from poor implementation and weak feedback loops to deeper mismatches between design and battlefield reality. They also explore what it takes to succeed in this environment and what it means for future conflicts. Thanks to Leonid Capital Partners for hosting the event at which this podcast was recorded.

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## Transcript

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