Defence Minister Luke Pollard has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence has held multiple discussions with Scottish defence companies on collaborating with Ukrainian partners in areas including air defence, uncrewed systems and electronic warfare.
The response came in reply to a written parliamentary question from Angus MacDonald, the Liberal Democrat MP for Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire, who asked what engagement the Defence Secretary had with Scottish defence firms and advanced manufacturing clusters on Ukrainian collaboration.
Pollard said he had “held multiple discussions with defence companies and Scottish stakeholders on collaboration with Ukrainian partners in air defence, uncrewed systems, and electronic warfare.”
He confirmed that in March he led what he described as “the seventh and largest UK defence trade mission to Ukraine, including Scottish businesses, with support from my Department and ADS.”
The minister added that the government is helping UK industry, including Scottish companies, establish a lasting presence in Ukraine through the Business Centre in Kyiv and develop further capabilities in partnership with Ukraine’s defence ecosystem.
