The United Kingdom and Ukraine have agreed to launch joint production of Ukrainian drone models on British soil to support the Ukrainian Defense Forces, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine announced on Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The agreement, reached during a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, covers a three-year period. It includes UK government funding for a wide range of Ukrainian-made drones, which will be co-produced in the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thanks to this cooperation, British defense companies will be able to rapidly design and manufacture state-of-the-art drones at scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUkraine is a global leader in drone development, with new technologies emerging roughly every six weeks,\u201d the UK Ministry of Defense noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion continues, all drones produced under this agreement will be directed exclusively to Ukraine\u2019s Defense Forces, said Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. After the war, the drones will be distributed between the two countries for broader use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This partnership is expected to boost the scaling of advanced technologies, expand drone production, and foster closer integration between the defense industries of Ukraine and the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Initial agreements between Ukrainian and British defense manufacturers are expected to be signed in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The industrial partnership will enhance intelligence-sharing and operational expertise, particularly in air defense involving drones. It also paves the way for both countries to collaborate on next-generation defense capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Combat-tested drones manufactured in the UK will be supplied to Ukraine in large quantities to support its continued resistance against Russia\u2019s brutal invasion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPilot projects and follow-on orders will be funded through the UK\u2019s \u00a34.5 billion military support package for Ukraine this year, as well as the UK\u2019s ongoing commitment of \u00a33 billion annually in future years,\u201d the British Ministry of Defense stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Previously, Germany and Canada also committed to funding the expansion of production of Ukrainian interceptor drones to counter \u201cShahed\u201d attacks, while Norway pledged to finance the development and production of naval drones inside Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n