The United Kingdom has finalised its largest-ever drone package for Ukraine, committing to supply 120,000 unmanned aerial vehicles to support Kyiv's fight against Russian aggression. The deal, announced as Defence Secretary John Healey co-chaired a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in Berlin, includes surveillance, maritime strike, and intelligence-gathering drones.
The package, described by the Ministry of Defence as the largest of its kind, features thousands of long-range strike drones, reconnaissance drones, logistics drones, and maritime capabilities, all battle-proven on Ukraine's frontlines. Deliveries have already commenced this month, with the aim of bolstering Ukrainian forces ahead of the summer fighting season.
Russia has reportedly been losing at least 1,000 troops per day in brutal frontline combat, and for the first time, the Kremlin has struggled to maintain recruitment levels. This means that for every soldier killed or injured—often by drone strikes—replacements are not always available.
The investment will largely benefit UK-based companies, including Tekever, Windracers, and Malloy Aeronautics, creating new jobs while enhancing Ukraine's security. Defence Secretary Healey stated: '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. 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.'
The drone package is part of the UK's wider £3 billion military support for Ukraine this year, which also includes hundreds of thousands of artillery rounds and thousands of air defence missiles. Healey added: 'With eyes on the Middle East in recent weeks, Putin wants us to be distracted, but Ukrainians continue to fight with huge courage and nothing will distract us from continuing to stand with them for as long as it takes to secure peace.'
