UK vows 100,000 additional drones for Kiev
(MENAFN) The United Kingdom has pledged to deliver 100,000 additional drones to Ukraine by April 2026, following up on the 10,000 UAVs it sent last year. The announcement aligns with the UK’s newly released Strategic Defense Review, which outlines plans to strengthen the country’s military in response to what it describes as a growing threat from Russia.
According to a government statement on Wednesday, £350 million ($470 million) from the UK’s broader £4.5 billion aid package for Ukraine will fund the new drone shipments. UK Defense Secretary John Healey is expected to outline the plan at the upcoming Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting in Brussels.
British officials highlighted the success of Ukraine’s use of drones in combat and noted that Kiev’s high demand has positively impacted the UK’s defense industry. The UK also intends to leverage Ukraine’s battlefield experience to train its own forces, with over £4 billion earmarked for autonomous and drone systems.
Since the conflict escalated in 2022, Ukraine has conducted drone strikes inside Russia, including on civilian targets. Russia has accused Ukraine’s Western allies—particularly the UK, France, and Germany—of using drone warfare to sabotage peace negotiations and pursue their own strategic interests.
The UK’s Strategic Defense Review positions the initiative as a warning to Moscow, stating Britain is “ready to fight if required.” The review outlines major new investments, including £1.5 billion for weapons manufacturing, £6 billion for long-range weapons, and £15 billion for nuclear arms.
Moscow has dismissed claims of any intention to attack Western Europe, calling them baseless and designed to justify increased Western military budgets. Russian officials have warned that continued arms shipments to Ukraine will obstruct peace efforts and escalate the risk of a wider conflict in Europe.
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