The Ministry of Defence has announced a landmark delivery of 30,000 drones to Ukraine as part of the international effort to support Ukraine’s defence against Russian aggression.
This milestone, unveiled by Defence Secretary John Healey and Latvian Defence Minister Andris Sprūds at the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in Ramstein, underscores the UK’s leadership in supporting Ukraine through advanced military aid.
The delivery of drones, valued at £45 million, is part of the UK and Latvia-led Drone Capability Coalition. These cutting-edge, first-person view drones, funded by the UK, Denmark, the Netherlands, Latvia, and Sweden, are designed to bypass Russian air defences and target enemy positions effectively. Healey spoke on the strategic importance of this effort, stating:
“I am proud of the UK’s leadership in supporting Ukraine. From heading coalitions which are delivering essential equipment alongside allies, to training recruits, we’re standing strong with Ukraine against Putin’s aggression.”
The funding for the drones includes the UK’s £7.5 million investment in the coalition’s Common Fund, bringing the total UK contribution to £15 million. To date, the coalition has raised approximately £73 million from international partners.
Alongside the drone announcement, Healey confirmed that the UK-administered International Fund for Ukraine now totals over £1.3 billion, with £500 million contributed by the UK. Recent contributions from allies and partners, including £67 million from Denmark and £43 million from Portugal, highlight the international community’s commitment to Ukraine.
The announcement follows the UK’s £225 million military aid package revealed in December, which included £186 million from the International Fund for Ukraine. The UK has committed to providing £3 billion annually in military aid to Ukraine for as long as it takes to ensure its defence.
Healey reiterated the UK’s strategic approach:
“The defence of the UK starts in Ukraine. Providing military support is essential to promote both the UK’s national security and stability in Europe.”
The provision of 30,000 drones represents a significant step in ensuring Ukraine’s ability to counter Russian aggression and underscores the UK’s ongoing leadership in the international coalition supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and stability.
Who is making these drones, why can’t we buy some as well? Just put them in a warehouse somewhere till we need them.
China?
There was a video or clip i saw the other day were drones were being 3d printed and there were stacks of thousands of them. No Chinese guy in the picture just a white guy in the middle with the face cut off the top edge. I’m not certain but i think it was supposedly taken in Ukraine near one of the drone bases not far from the front.
The question a lot of us would like answered is where are these drones being built (hoping in the UK), and if so how secure is the supply chain. But I appreciate that information is probably not available to plebs.
I think we need to rename this conflict now to the ‘Drone wars’.
All soldiers are now drone fodder, along with tanks, arty, planes and ships. It ain’t gonna be long before some bright spark thinks EMP is the only solution.
The moon is down.
🫶✌️
Probably end up a stalemate of Technologies produce 30,0000 drones then along comes the Techno to shoot them down ie Lasers basically a sawn of Shotgun in Laser form?
Drone warfare is the future?? we need a million high tech drone??
Why are we spending money. not our war the war is lost already.just more death for nothing i am utterly ashamed of this countrys leadership
The peaple of this country has Never been asked if we supported this war in any way totally wrong
You must have some old French blood just roll over and die, luckily most people here prefer to support free speach and democracy rather than tyrants.
Well said. Luckily Matt lives in a country you can say such things without getting sent to the front or prison.
I have always been ashamed of this country’s leadership!
You must be russian or chinese ?
We support our allies and Ukraine is one of them. If we got invaded then I hope our allies would support us in our fight fir freedom.