The United Kingdom will begin producing advanced air defence interceptor drones for Ukraine within weeks as part of a technology-sharing partnership between the two countries, the government has confirmed.
In a written response to Conservative MP James Cartlidge, Defence Minister Al Carns said the new industrial partnership “has already made significant progress” and that the UK expects to start manufacturing the drones “within weeks.”
He added that “our Ukrainian friends will share the technology and intellectual property with the UK – in turn we’ll develop this further and mass produce it to supply thousands of interceptor drones back to Ukraine monthly.”
The system, known as Project Octopus, was first announced in September as part of a wider UK-Ukraine industrial cooperation plan unveiled by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Defence Secretary John Healey. It forms part of the government’s effort to support both British industry and Ukraine’s defence against Russian attacks.
According to the Ministry of Defence, Octopus is designed as an air-to-air interceptor drone capable of engaging and destroying incoming drones and missiles before they reach their targets. The platform is intended to offer a cheaper and faster-produced alternative to conventional air-defence missiles, which have been heavily used during Russia’s large-scale strikes on Ukrainian cities.
In an earlier government release, Starmer described the initiative as a “landmark moment” bringing together British and Ukrainian defence industries to “deliver cutting-edge drone technology to fight back against Russian aggression.” Healey said the plan demonstrates the government’s aim to “rev up our world-leading defence industry” while boosting jobs and industrial capacity in the UK.
The manufacturing phase will take place at sites across Britain, with the government targeting the production of thousands of drones per month for delivery to Ukraine. However, in a separate response to Parliament, Carns said “no decision has yet been made on the proportion of manufacturing to be conducted in the UK and in Ukraine.”
The programme is the first of its kind, linking the British and Ukrainian defence sectors in sustained co-production.
The speed of things from concept to in service, regarding Ukraine is most impressive, and shows how we could in fact, if we wanted to do the same with certain platforms and capabilities within our own military. Alas, there is no political will and the head sheds in uniform are mostly now political pawns who are only concerned about their career and pensions and will tow the political line (very much like Chief Constables in a number of areas).