The United Kingdom has significantly ramped up its military support to Ukraine, pledging a tenfold increase in drone deliveries as part of a record £350 million package for this financial year.
The major investment is aimed at bolstering Ukraine’s defence against ongoing Russian aggression.
Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed the increased support during a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG), held at NATO Headquarters and co-chaired with his German counterpart. The scale-up in drone support forms a key part of the UK’s broader £4.5 billion military assistance programme for 2025.
Following the delivery of more than 10,000 drones last year, the UK now plans to provide up to 100,000 drones to Ukraine by the end of this financial year. Tens of thousands have already been shipped, including FPV drones, interceptor models, and advanced fibre-optic variants designed to resist Russian electronic warfare. Many of these drones are developed by British SMEs, showcasing the UK’s growing defence innovation sector.
Healey stated, “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.”
He added that insights from the conflict are shaping the development of advanced drone technology, helping to safeguard civilians in Ukraine while also strengthening UK defence capabilities.
In addition to drone support, the UK has completed the delivery of 140,000 artillery shells since January, enhancing Ukraine’s frontline strength. According to Defence Intelligence, British-supplied drones are now causing more battlefield casualties than artillery, significantly shifting combat dynamics.
The UK is also investing £247 million into troop training via Operation Interflex, which has already prepared over 55,000 Ukrainian recruits with the assistance of 13 allied nations. A further £40 million will be channelled through NATO’s NSATU trust fund to provide Ukraine with vehicle components, fuel and other operational essentials.
This enhanced support follows the UK’s Strategic Defence Review, which has allocated more than £4 billion to the development of drones and autonomous systems for the British Armed Forces, drawing on lessons learned from Ukraine. The review also reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027.
Defence Secretary Healey concluded, “This investment will help keep us secure at home and strong abroad, while ensuring the UK is a world leader in rapidly developing drone technology.”
