The Drone Capability Coalition is set to sign contracts for 35,000 interceptor drones for Ukraine in the coming months

The United Kingdom has delivered more than 85,000 military drones to Ukraine over six months this year, Defence Secretary John Healey said at a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, the UK government reports.

This year the UK government has invested £600 million in military drones for Ukraine as part of a £4.5 billion government support package. Purchases include logistical, strike and reconnaissance unmanned aerial systems. A significant share of production is provided by UK companies Tekever, Windracer and Malloy.

The Drone Capability Coalition, co-led by the UK and Latvia, is also funding procurement of drone-interceptors to counter Iranian-designed Shahed attack drones. These interceptors are already being tested on the battlefield, and contracts are expected in the coming months for the delivery of around 35,000 new systems.

The Defence Secretary said allies must “ramp up drone production to outmatch Putin’s escalation”. He also confirmed that national security underpins the government’s “Plan for Change”, which envisages increasing defence spending to 2.6% of GDP from 2027.

The UK is not only expanding drone deliveries but is also extending its contribution to NATO’s Eastern Sentry air policing mission to the end of 2025. As part of that operation, British Typhoon fighters have been conducting flights over Polish airspace following recorded Russian drone incursions.

The UK and Ukraine have signed an industrial partnership to develop the Octopus interceptor drone. That drone is already being used by Ukraine to protect civilians and critical infrastructure from Russian attacks. Battlefield data are being used to mass-produce upgraded models.