The United Kingdom and Ukraine have signed a landmark three-year agreement to share frontline drone technology and boost production for Ukraine’s armed forces. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy finalized the deal at 10 Downing Street on Monday.
Under the accord, data collected from Ukraine’s battlefields – where drone designs reportedly evolve every six weeks – will be transmitted to UK defence factories. British firms will apply these “technology data sets” to design, test and mass-produce combat drones that have already been proven in Ukraine.
Initial industrial pilot projects are slated to begin within weeks, with full-scale production to follow over the coming months and years.
“Our partnership fuses Ukraine’s battlefield innovation with British industrial strength,” Starmer said. “This agreement is not just about today’s fight; it’s about building the defence capabilities of tomorrow, together.”
He added that the initiative will accelerate support for Ukraine while sustaining jobs in the UK defence sector.
The technology-sharing framework has been announced alongside a separate UK assistance package of up to £280 million for fiscal year 2025–26, bringing non-military aid to more than £5 billion since Russia’s invasion. On the military side, the drone collaboration will be funded from the UK’s £4.5 billion defence commitment for Ukraine in 2025, with plans to increase annual support to £3 billion in subsequent years.
Officials say the pact aligns with recommendations from the UK’s Strategic Defence Review, which called for greater use of autonomous systems. Beyond immediate drone production, both governments envisage longer-term cooperation on related capabilities, such as electronic warfare, counter-drone measures and other unmanned platforms, extending well beyond the current conflict.
The agreement follows a 100-year strategic partnership signed in January and demonstrates the deepening ties between the two nations. Ukrainian representatives described the deal as vital for sustaining their defence industry, while UK executives see it as an opportunity to expand export markets and reinforce Britain’s position in drone innovation.
Post Image Credit: Volodymyr Zelenskyy via Telegram
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