The announcement coincides with a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in Berlin, co-chaired by UK Defence Secretary John Healey alongside German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The group brings together 50 nations supporting Ukraine.
The package includes a range of long-range strike, intelligence and reconnaissance, logistics and maritime drones. The systems are described as battle-proven and deliveries have already begun this month.
UK officials said drones have become a critical component of Ukraine’s operations, supporting both counterattacks and defensive efforts. Russian forces launched approximately 6,500 one-way attack drones in March 2026, highlighting the increasing scale of aerial threats.
The majority of the investment will be directed to UK-based companies, including Tekever, Windracers and Malloy Aeronautics. The government said the programme is expected to create jobs and support innovation across the UK’s defence industry.
“In the fifth year of Putin’s brutal war, the UK is stepping up further and providing the highest ever number of drones for Ukraine this year,” said Healey. “This big boost of battle-proven drones will give Ukrainian forces the capability they need to defend their people and fight back against Russian aggression.”
Healey added, “With eyes on the Middle East in recent weeks, Putin wants us to be distracted, but Ukrainians continue to fight with huge courage and nothing will distract us from continuing to stand with them for as long as it takes to secure peace.”
The drone package forms part of the UK’s wider £3 billion military support for Ukraine this year. The government also confirmed plans to supply hundreds of thousands of artillery rounds and thousands of air defence missiles.
The announcement builds on a defence partnership agreed last month between the UK and Ukraine to strengthen capabilities against emerging threats such as low-cost, high-technology systems. It also follows a £500 million air defence package announced earlier this year, including funding for NATO initiatives and missile deliveries.
