UK Pledges 150,000 Drones and Air Defence Systems to Ukraine in £752 Million Package

UK Ministry of Defence Building

Image: UK MoD Crown Copyright

The UK will deliver 150,000 drones and over 350 air defence missiles and radars to Ukraine by the end of 2026, under a £752 million military support package funded through the £2.26 billion Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) loan backed by immobilised Russian sovereign assets.

Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis MBE MP announced the package at the NATO Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Brussels, where he co-chaired the 35th Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) alongside German counterpart Boris Pistorius. The group brings together nearly 50 nations to coordinate battlefield support for Ukraine.

The air defence component includes Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM) and ground-based radar systems, targeting the persistent threat from Russian drone and missile strikes on civilian infrastructure. The package also supports Ukraine’s domestic defence production capacity.

Jarvis commented: “This package of drones, air defence missiles and radars will help protect innocent Ukrainian people from Putin’s barrage of drones and missiles.”

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves added: “Our support for Ukraine is steadfast. We will continue to do all we can to keep pressure on Russia.”

The Defence Secretary also confirmed Britain will assume command of the Multinational Force for Ukraine Headquarters (MNF-U). Major General Tom Bateman will take the role next month at the rank of Lieutenant General, coordinating long-term support and post-conflict regeneration planning for Ukraine’s armed forces.

The announcement follows further UK action at the G7, including £210 million in export finance for Ukraine’s nuclear power plants and 70 new sanctions targeting Russia’s shadow fleet, as per a recent press statement from the UK government.

Read more on the UK MoD website

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