The UK has provided extensive military support, including missiles, drones, tanks, artillery, and munitions, here are the specifics.

The information came to light following a written Parliamentary question asked by John Healey MP, the Shadow Secretary of State for Defence.

Leo Docherty MP stated:

“The UK’s support to Ukraine has been and will remain steadfast and we have just announced our largest ever military aid package, which will be delivered over the next few months.

Since February 2022, we have delivered the following key capabilities. For operational security reasons we are unable to publish the full extent of the information requested. The announcement made by the Prime Minister on Tuesday 23 April is additional to the list below.

· 1,800 air defence missiles

· Over 4,000 drones including:

· Long range attack drones

· Strategic Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS)

· Storm Shadow cruise missiles

· Squadron of 14 Challenger 2 Tanks with thousands of rounds of ammunition, plus armoured recovery and repair vehicles.

· 50 AS90 self-propelled 155mm guns hundreds of armoured and protected vehicles.

· 400,000 rounds of artillery ammunition

· 6 Stormer vehicles fitted with Starstreak launchers

· Thousands of surface-to-air missiles including HMV Starstreak, LMM Martlet, ASRAAM, AMRAAM and others.

· More than 10,000 anti-tank weapons (including over 5,000 Next Generation Light Anti-Tank [NLAW] missiles, Javelin, Brimstone and others)

· Nearly 6 million rounds of small arms ammunition, 2,600 anti-structure munitions and 4.5 tonnes of plastic explosive

· More than a hundred anti-aircraft guns, self-propelled artillery.

· Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS)

· 6 stormer air defence vehicles, using HVM Starstreak missiles.

· Counter-battery radar systems

· Communications equipment

· Electronic warfare equipment

· Medical equipment

· 3 Sea King helicopters

· 140 logisitics vehicles

· 1,000 VALLON metal detectors and 100 bomb de-arming kits

· 300 Armoured and protected mobility vehicles

· Cold weather equipment

· Body armour and helmets

· Electricity Generators”

The announcement referee to above in April will also see the following donated.

  • 60 boats including offshore raiding craft, rigid raiding craft and dive boats as well as maritime guns
  • More than 1,600 strike and air defence missiles, as well as additional Storm Shadow long-range precision-guided missiles.
  • More than 400 vehicles, including 160 protected mobility ‘Husky’ vehicles, 162 armoured vehicles and 78 all-terrain vehicles.
  • Nearly 4 million rounds of small arms ammunition.
George Allison
George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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37 COMMENTS

  1. That’s quite a list.

    Clearly we are buying stuff on the international arms market as well as supplying from our own stocks. The stand out item in that regard is the self propelled AA artillery. I can’t think of a SP AA system in UK service in the last 40 years, if ever? Mobile SAM’s yes, guns, na nothing springing to mind.

    It also looks as if we have supplied quite a bit of ammunition, but I guess that’s all gone as modern guns, especially self propelled guns, can fire off huge amounts of ammunition daily.

    To illustrate, the new gun the British Army is getting carries 30 rounds, lets say they fire an average of 2 rounds a minute sustained, 15minutes of shooting and they are looking for resupply. OK they would probably shoot and scoot, so lets guess at 4 hours of shooting and scooting, 6 vehicle battery spread out but cooperatively firing. Lets say they are ‘busy’ so could be firing what 4 or 5 fire missions per day? Say there are 4 or 5 batteries similarly engaged, a regiment. That’s 30x6x5x5 = 4,500 rounds in one day for that scenario. Or that one regiment could use up the full 400,000 rounds supplied in 89 days… We took 2 years to deliver those 400,000 rounds – no wonder Zelensky is getting a tad uptight! Worse, the US is going to supply 1,000,000 round of artillery ammunition – it ain’t going to last long.

    A quick look at statista website and the west have supplied at least 521 155mm howitzers most of them self propelled. At 2 rounds a minute that 1 million rounds will provide those guns with about 16 hours of ammunition. So I expect Zelensky to be asking for more ammo in the not too distant future…

    Sorry got a bit engrossed in the numbers…

    Cheers CR

    • Ukraine have spent much time depleating the black sea fleet and Russian air assets – that in my view is their route to victory. Russia seems to almost want to wear out Ukraine by allowing them to annilalate their never ending supply of cannon fodder. Not a tactic any self-respecting western nation would try but we are talking about Putin now. Victory at any cost.

      • Hi Mark B,

        This could be a very interesting and old discussion 🙂

        Bomber Harris believed he could bomb Germany into submission during WW2, and whilst the Western Allied bombing offensive drew off huge numbers of German artillery (the Germans used AA guns as general artillery when needed), men and aircraft, it was the advance of the Red Army and the allies that defeated Germany. In short, boots on the ground, or the threat of boots on the ground, that determines the outcome of a war. Although, in the real world things can be rather more gray than that statement suggests but as a basic principal I think it is a true statement.

        Sea and air power are very important enablers. The deployment of huge resources to protect the Fatherland in WW2 meant huge shortages of men and material on the Eastern Front for the Germans. In short the bombing campaign was in effect a second front.

        Another, example is the growth of the British Empire which was enabled by the Royal Navy’s defeat of the French at the Battle of Quiberon Bay. After that the British were able to cut off French land forces around the world from their supply lines back to the homeland and the Royal Navy could transport British troops at will to take knock off much of the French Empire.

        Basically, I agree that the Ukrainians have proved themselves very capable at sinking the Russian Black Sea Fleet and knocking down Russian aircraft but that will not win them the war. It might well help them to avoid defeat, but that is not the same as winning – whatever that looks like… The fact is the Russian’s have lost the ability to mount any kind of air assault or maritime strike against Ukraine forcing them into the kind of attritional warfare we currently see. Sadly for Ukraine it is currently working.

        If the West could get properly organised and supply the Ukrainians with what they need then I think the Russians would be in serious trouble. For all the clever and smart weapons the west has supplied I think it all comes down to the lack for 155mm ammunition. Nothing smart, just lots of noise…

        The smart weapons have basically forced Russia into an attritional war, that and their own poor training, etc. – battlefield shaping I think it is called. The weapons and training supplied and the Ukrainian’s own ingenuity have successfully shaped the battlefield, but lack of ammunition means it has been to Russia’s advantage. How ironic is that?

        I think Napoleon said, ” God fights on the side with the best artillery.” But the best artillery is only any use if it has something to shoot..!

        That last point is for Western politicians 🙂

        Cheers CR

        • Nice analysis CR. The irony is not lost on many of us here.

          Not only are the Ukrainians depleting 155mm ammunition stocks. In doing so they are wearing out a finite supply of artillery barrels/tubes at a prodigious rate. Which degrades accuracy meaning even more rounds need to be fired to achieve the same effect. (Costly smart rounds notwithstanding.) A downward spiral with only one very predictable outcome.

          Journalists harp on about 155mm round production but forget that the west has even fewer producers of barrels. It can take ten years to train engineers to operate barrel forging facilities. The Russians have no such shortage of either indigenous 152mm ammunition or barrel producers. (Likely still using Cold War stockpiles for all I know.) In addition Iran, North Korea and the ChiComs produce them too. At rates that would perhaps should, be considered war time production by NATO.

          We have yet to see the effect Putin’s allies will have when they fully commit to the cause. I’m interested to see what possible changes of government in the US and GB will have on NATO support for the Ukrainian oligarchy. Never mind the will of the people to pump money and resources into a black hole. The time is approaching when a decision has to be made about sending in our troops. Or risk doing to Ukraine what we did to Poland before, during and after WWII.

          The annoying thing is, all of this was predictable back in 2022 and should have been fathomable before the pre-2014 shenanigans. We actually employ people to run scenarios like this, often in conjunction with our allies. Then elected politicians ignore their advice.

        • Hi CR Yes Bomber Harris got it wrong I think. Certainly when he was targetting cities rather than military targets it hardened the determination of the inhabitents. Also Ukraine must avoid targeting civilians as they will run foul of international law and run the risk of alienating western partners.

          Should however Ukraine be able to completely blunt the air superiority of the Russians that will even the odds a little. If the Russian supply lines can be severed that will also be an excellent move. I totally agree that the land must be retaken I am merely thinking the odds need to change (and some of that has already happened).

      • At the end of the day, victory for Ukraine amounts to retaking the Donbas and ideally also Crimea – and ejecting every Russian military person and asset from its territory. It is crucially a land war.
        UKR has been admirable in writing down the Russian Navy and Air Force but they must win the ground war to secure victory.

        • True it is crucially a land war however if the Russians have supperiority in the air and at sea then that make the land battles all the more difficult. If the Ukainians could establish air supiority that would make things far easier for Ukraine.

          • In order to successfully go on the offensive, you need to have air supremacy or at least limited air superiority. That is an established mantra. My point was that no-one should think that UKR victory will be achieved by just doing very well at the naval war, and having some success in defeating enemy aircraft.

          • Hi Graham. Yes so on the basis of your mantra and reasoning if Ukraine get at least limited air superiority then that limits the ability of the Russians to move forward on the ground and allows Ukraine to start recovering ground. If Ukraine continue to chip away at the Russian air force then that forces them to either move them out of reach or accept the losses.

            The Black sea fleet issue revolves more around the ability of Ukraine to ship out grain etc. bringing in income to support the war effort. It also demonstrates an ability to use drones etc. effectively.

    • In terms of SP AA, could they mean those palletised 40 mm guns that can be carried around on the back of a truck? Can’t think of much else they could be meaning…

      • You’re thnking of the MSI Terrahwak Paladin. A small number have been supplied.

        But the listing above conflates 2 things…Self Propelled Artillery and Anti-aircraft guns…

        The 100 AA guns have previously been listed as ‘Towed’. The suspicion is that the UK has found a load of ZU-23-2 on the secondhand market and purchased and sent.

        • Thanks, couldn’t remember the name of those things- they look like good kit though.
          I suppose, if you were to get Sadiq Khan to donate a non-ULEZ pickup for each of the ZU-23-2s, then you’re pretty much at self propelled?!

          • our army needs a lot of this equipment. it’s not achieved anything tangible, so maybe it takes to slow down on major equipment being lost just when defence is back on the political agenda again.

        • I know that I worked on them for 12 years but it would account the higher number of guns supplied. Reading other comments and I work at the Royal school of artillery we’re going to be left woefully undergunned for some time I find it alarming

      • Yeh, if I remember rightly they were Belgian guns that had been in storage. I believe we also applied some upgrades to them as well..?

        Cheers CR

        • The Belgian guns did not require upgrades, just quick refurb to blow the cobwebs off.

          The Belgians themselves had spent a fortune upgrading them to an advanced standard before retiring them a scant few years later…they were probably better spec than most US Paladin’s..

  2. While that is great, Ukraine needs so much more. Its fighting Russia that has put its economy into war mode. Russia had loads of soviet war stock and as fast as it’s being used it’s not finished yet.
    The U.K. should be aiming to give at least 1 preferably 2% of gdP. Some aid, some loans or whatever.
    If Europe doesn’t give more soon Ukraine will be in big trouble.

    • Anything that is soon to be replaced should ideally be sent to Ukraine asap, even items that are waiting for replacement such as Warrior & AS90, though it seems we added 18 more AS90 in the last package. Seems crazy sending out kit that is not yet replaced but honestly are they going to be used by the UK any time soon? Especially AS90, which we have already sent 1/2 of what was a modest force to begin with, what are the rest of them going to do? They’re not even modern due to lack of upgrades.

      Once we’re out of old kit to send, then we’re going to face serious questions. Do we start to develop low cost solution domestically for Ukraine? Do we accelerate replacements of other equipment even before OOS dates?

      • 89 AS90 pre war. 50 already delivered and more pledged in the latest package. Given many were in a very poor state, I doubt we have much if anything left beyond training and Estonia.

        • We gave UKR many AS-90s that were in a poor state?
          I heard we gave them 12 unfit AS-90s plus 20 good ones in the first tranche. The 12 were for them to strip for spares. The 20 should have been good.

          Seemingly we have sent another 18 AS-90s which I had not heard about to make the figure of 50. I assume they were all good ones.

      • Hi Markam,

        We are already supplying a lot of kit that we have procured on the international arms market or from allies. For example, you mention the AS90. According to the Statista we have supplied 30 AS90 and 28 M109 howitzers from Belgium stocks. The letter we upgraded before sending them to Ukraine because, if I remember rightly, they were even older than the AS90’s and taken out of long term storage.

        As for developing stuff in a hurry reading between the lines I think we have been exploiting our rapidly developing and expanding drone industry. Much of the development work is private venture and no doubt very ingenious and given recent announcements our own forces might actually be riding along with some of what is going on… Fingers crossed.

        For the statista website data shows that the West has supplied over 521 155mm howitzers, most of them self propelled, plus 122mm, 105mm and of course MLRS or HiMARs. That’s a lot of potential firepower. Shame we forgot to send enough ammunition – oh yeh, we let our manufacturing capability wither didn’t we. Oops.

        Cheers CR

      • If we send everything we’ve got to Ukraine, do you expect HMT to quickly come up with the cash to rebuld our donated fleets?

  3. 50 AS90 doesn’t seem right, last time I heard it was 32, although 18 of these were non-working and for spares use only.

    Unless the initial reports were wrong, and it was 32 working guns plus 18 for spares?

    Someone mentioned 28 Belgian M109s too, but don’t think that makes the numbers work…

    Hard to know if these MPs are just misunderstanding the figures they are given/giving, or if its a policy of deliberate ambiguity!

    • Hi Carrickter,

      According to Statista website we have supplied 30 AS90 from our own stocks and 28 refurbished / upgraded M109’s from Belgian stocks.

      Cheers CR

    • I heard we donated 20 fully fit guns and 12 unserviceable guns suitable for breaking for spares.

  4. I still really wan to know what those long range attack drones are..! Confirmation that they’re the modified Banshees would be sufficient.
    Interesting to note that we’ve provided AMRAAM for SAMs, I hadn’t seen that before. For NASAMs I suppose?

    • The Lend-Lease deal we had with the US – we were meant to return any unused kit at end of WW2 or pay for it.
      Maybe the same applies here, but I doubt UKR will have anything left of the Western kit afterwards or will have to keep it to prevent further Russian invasions.

    • Yes, when posters moan endlessly on here they forget, or did not know, that we are often in a better position than many.
      Just how come we had so many NLAW to send in the first place if we are living hand to mouth?
      Because we are not.

  7. I think unless the Ukrainians start showing a tangible return in results with all the western kit we should draw back on our material support and concentrate on ourselves. Ukraine is not getting anywhere at the moment, if anything they are being pushed back again.

    • UKR has no real airpower and very little artillery ammunition (tube and rocket). Its amazing they have only lost a few villages in the last few weeks.

      The West needs to send far, far more kit – and quickly.

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