Main image: AR5 UAV (Photo: Tekever)
The United Kingdom has announced its largest-ever drone support package for Ukraine, committing to supply at least 120,000 drones in 2026 as part of a major expansion of military assistance and domestic defence production.
The announcement was made ahead of the 34th meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, which is being co-chaired in Berlin by UK Defence Secretary John Healey and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, alongside Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
The package includes thousands of long-range strike drones, reconnaissance systems, logistics drones, and maritime capabilities, all described as “battle-proven” on Ukraine’s frontline. According to the UK government, deliveries have already begun this month.
“In the fifth year of Putin’s brutal war, the UK is stepping up further and providing the highest ever number of drones for Ukraine this year,” Defence Secretary John Healey said. “This big boost of battle-proven drones will give Ukrainian forces the capability they need to defend their people and fight back against Russian aggression.”
British officials highlighted the growing importance of unmanned systems in the war, noting that approximately 6,500 one-way attack drones were launched by Russia against Ukraine in March 2026 alone, a significant increase compared to February.
Ukrainian forces, meanwhile, have increasingly relied on drones for both offensive operations and defence against Russian strikes along the front line.
The majority of the new investment will be directed toward UK-based defence companies, including Tekever, Windracers, and Malloy Aeronautics, supporting domestic jobs and industrial growth.
Officials said the initiative forms part of a broader effort to strengthen both Ukraine’s defence capacity and Europe’s long-term security through technological cooperation.
The drone package is part of the UK’s broader £3 billion military aid commitment to Ukraine this year, which also includes hundreds of thousands of artillery shells and thousands of air defence missiles.
The announcement follows a recent £500 million air defence package, which included funding for NATO’s Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative and the delivery of over 1,000 Lightweight Multirole Missiles produced in Belfast.
The UK also continues joint industrial cooperation with Ukraine, including air defence production and support agreements worth hundreds of millions of pounds.
Officials said the initiative reflects a wider strategy to counter the global spread of low-cost, high-tech battlefield systems such as drones, while reinforcing long-term defence cooperation between allies.
