The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening domestic drone defence systems while deepening long-term industrial collaboration with Ukraine’s defence sector.
Defence Minister Al Carns confirmed ongoing investment in British-made Counter-Uncrewed Aerial System (C-UAS) technologies, designed to counter emerging aerial threats. He said the Ministry of Defence is actively supporting the development of advanced drone defence capabilities from UK manufacturers, ensuring the country remains at the forefront of innovation in modern warfare.
Carns explained that the Ministry collaborates closely with the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA), the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), and several industrial partners. These partnerships conduct regular capability challenges aimed at accelerating the development of cutting-edge C-UAS systems.
“These challenges promote the development of C-UAS systems by British companies,” Carns said, adding that recent investments in directed energy weapons are being led by UK consortiums. The new systems are engineered for deployment across multiple operational environments, including the protection of critical national infrastructure.
In a separate statement, Defence Minister Luke Pollard detailed the UK’s strategy for long-term industrial cooperation with Ukraine. He described Ukraine as “a recognised world leader in innovation and technology adoption,” noting that the UK has worked closely with Kyiv since Russia’s full-scale invasion to deliver battlefield capabilities and strengthen industrial ties.
Pollard highlighted that the UK has led six trade missions into Ukraine to build defence industrial relationships that support both short-term operations and enduring post-conflict collaboration.
He added that the bilateral agreement signed in June between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will enhance cooperation through shared data and expertise, laying the foundation for future joint technological priorities.
The move underscores Britain’s dual strategy of bolstering its own defence innovation ecosystem while ensuring sustained support for Ukraine’s recovery and defence modernisation efforts.
