UK to supply 100,000 drones to Ukraine
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The United Kingdom has announced a significant escalation in its military support for Ukraine, pledging to supply 100,000 drones by April 2026, in what it describes as a transformational shift in modern warfare strategy.
The drone commitment, valued at £350 million ($473 million), is part of a broader £4.5 billion military assistance package aimed at bolstering Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s ongoing invasion. The new target marks a tenfold increase from the previously stated 10,000 drone deliveries in 2024.
“The UK is stepping up its support for Ukraine by delivering hundreds of thousands more drones this year and completing a major milestone in the delivery of critical artillery ammunition,” said Defence Secretary John Healey in a statement.
The announcement follows Ukraine’s recent success in Operation Spiderweb, a covert mission by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) on June 1. Ukrainian operatives smuggled 117 drones deep into Russian territory, striking four military airbases and damaging 41 aircraft—a bold demonstration of how drone warfare is reshaping battlefield tactics.
Alongside the drone delivery, the UK confirmed it has already provided 140,000 artillery shells to Ukraine since January and will invest an additional £247 million ($334 million) in 2025 to train Ukrainian troops.
“We are learning lessons every day from the battlefield in Ukraine, which British companies are using to develop advanced new drones to help protect Ukraine’s civilians and also strengthen our own national security,” Healey added.
This military expansion aligns with recommendations from an independent Strategic Defence Review released on June 2. The review called for a more technologically advanced British military to confront evolving global threats, citing Russia’s war in Ukraine as a case study in modern conflict.
In response, the UK government has committed more than £4 billion ($5.4 billion) toward the development of autonomous systems and next-generation drone technologies for the British Armed Forces.
The announcement also comes amid broader efforts to increase the UK’s defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027.
Later today, Secretary Healey will formally present the new aid package during the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting in Brussels, co-hosted by the UK and Germany. The meeting is expected to coordinate further international support for Ukraine’s war effort.
The UK remains one of Ukraine’s most prominent military backers, with its latest announcement underscoring a long-term commitment to Ukraine’s defense and the transformation of global warfare strategy through drone technology. (ILKHA)
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