The United Kingdom announced that it has delivered more than 85,000 military drones to Ukraine in just the first half of 2025, after accelerating production across British manufacturers. The total investment in this effort amounts to £600 million.
According to a press release from the UK government, Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed during the Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting in Brussels that the large-scale drone deliveries were made possible by government investment and cooperation with British companies — a move that also supports jobs in both the UK and Ukraine.
Healey said that £600 million has been allocated this year to speed up the delivery of drones for Ukraine’s Armed Forces, including tens of thousands of short-range FPV drones used for precision strikes, reconnaissance, and countering Russian attacks.
The minister emphasized that allies must “ramp up drone production to outmatch Putin’s escalation,” following a surge in Russian drone strikes on Ukraine and dangerous incursions into Europe.
Last month in Kyiv, Healey and Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal signed an agreement on joint production of Octopus interceptor drones, which are already being used to protect civilians and critical infrastructure from Russian attacks. Based on new battlefield data, the UK aims to supply thousands of upgraded interceptors to Ukraine every month.
Healey also announced the extension of the Royal Air Force’s participation in NATO’s Eastern Sentry air policing mission until the end of 2025. British Typhoon fighter jets continue to patrol Polish airspace in response to recent Russian incursions.
Additionally, the UK will soon deploy military counter-drone specialists to Moldova to help train local forces in anti-drone tactics.
Overall, the UK has spent £600 million this year on military drones for Ukraine — part of a record £4.5 billion commitment to support the country’s defense. Much of the funding goes to British companies such as Tekever, Windracer, and Malloy, sustaining hundreds of specialized jobs across the country.
The Drone Capability Coalition, co-led by the UK and Latvia, is also using international funding to procure advanced interceptor drones to help Ukraine counter Iranian-designed Shahed one-way attack drones. It is expected that Ukraine will receive around 35,000 of these interceptor systems in the coming months.
“Putin’s dangerous escalation in Ukraine and across Europe must be met by ramping up our drone production and strengthening NATO’s air defenses,” Healey said.