The bundle will embody 1000’s of long-range assault drones and reconnaissance UAVs.
The bundle will embody 1000’s of long-range assault drones and reconnaissance UAVs (Picture: Getty)
The UK has introduced its largest-ever drone provide bundle for Ukraine, together with the switch of a minimum of 120,000 unmanned aerial automobiles by the top of the yr. Based on the Ministry of Defence in its press launch, the brand new army help bundle – the biggest supplied by the UK by way of UAV deliveries – will embody 1000’s of long-range assault drones, reconnaissance UAVs, logistics drones and maritime capabilities.
All the pieces within the bundle has reportedly already been examined in fight on the entrance in Ukraine. Deliveries of the brand new UAVs started this month. “This massive increase of battle-proven drones will give Ukrainian forces the potential they should defend their individuals and combat again in opposition to Russian aggression,” Defence Secretary John Healey mentioned. “With eyes on the Center East in current weeks, [Vladimir] Putin needs us to be distracted, however Ukrainians proceed to combat with big braveness and nothing will distract us from persevering with to face with them for so long as it takes to safe peace.”
Healey mentioned ‘Putin needs us to be distracted’ by the Center East (Picture: Getty)
The brand new drone bundle is backed by the UK’s wider £3billion army help for Ukraine this yr, in addition to ERA funding. The Ministry additionally verify that the UK shall be offering a whole lot of 1000’s of artillery rounds and 1000’s of air defence missiles for Ukraine this yr.
This follows the brand new defence partnership, agreed final month, that may see the UK and Ukraine work collectively to spice up international defensive functionality in opposition to the proliferation of low-cost, high-tech army {hardware}, together with drones.
The announcement comes as Mr Healey travels to Berlin to co-chair the thirty fourth assembly of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group – also called the Ramstein format – which is anticipated to convey collectively 50 international locations. On the assembly, the Defence Minister may even verify that the UK will present Ukraine with a whole lot of 1000’s of artillery shells and 1000’s of air defence missiles this yr.
Mr Healey’s US counterpart, Pete Hegseth, is once more anticipated to skip the Ramstein assembly.
The Ukraine Defence Contact Group will meet in Germany on April 15, with NATO Secretary Basic Mark Rutte additionally set to participate.
In complete, as of March 2026, the UK has dedicated as much as £21.8billion for Ukraine, together with £13billion in army help (together with the £2.3billion ERA Mortgage contribution) and as much as £5.3billion in non-military help, together with bilateral help and monetary ensures.
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