United Kingdom has unveiled its largest-ever drone support package for Ukraine, committing to deliver at least 120,000 drones this year as part of a major escalation in military assistance aimed at strengthening Kyiv’s position on the battlefield.

The announcement comes as Defence Secretary, John Healey travels to Berlin to co-chair the 34th meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, alongside German Defence Minister, Boris Pistorius, Ukrainian Defence Minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, and NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte.

According to Defence Secretary, John Healey, UK is stepping up further and providing the highest ever number of drones for Ukraine.

“This big boost of battle-proven drones will give Ukrainian forces the capability they need to defend their people and fight back against Russian aggression. With eyes on the Middle East in recent weeks, Putin wants us to be distracted, but Ukrainians continue to fight with huge courage and nothing will distract us from continuing to stand with them for as long as it takes to secure peace.”
John Healey

The package, described as the most extensive of its kind provided by the UK, will include a wide range of capabilities from long-range strike drones to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems, as well as logistics and maritime drones.

All systems included have been tested and deployed on Ukraine’s frontlines, reflecting lessons learned from nearly five years of conflict. Deliveries have already commenced this month, marking an immediate boost to Ukraine’s operational capacity.

The move highlight the growing importance of drone warfare in the conflict. Unmanned systems have become central to both Ukraine’s counteroffensive operations and its defensive posture against sustained Russian attacks.

In March 2026 alone, Russia launched approximately 6,500 one-way attack drones against Ukrainian targets, a sharp increase compared to February, highlighting the intensifying scale and technological evolution of the war.

Beyond its military dimension, the package is also expected to deliver economic benefits within the UK. A significant portion of the investment will be directed toward domestic defence manufacturers, including Tekever, Windracers, and Malloy Aeronautics.

This initiative is projected to support job creation, stimulate innovation, and strengthen the UK’s rapidly expanding drone sector.

As the conflict continues to reshape modern warfare, UK’s strategy reflects a dual objective: reinforcing Ukraine’s battlefield capabilities while advancing domestic defence industries and contributing to broader European security and deterrence efforts.

UK Strengthens Ukraine Support with Expanded Military Aid and Defence Cooperation

Moreover, United Kingdom has reinforced its military commitment to Ukraine by backing its latest drone initiative with a broader £3 billion defence support package for the year, alongside additional funding through the Ukraine’s Economic Resilience Assistance (ERA) programme.

As part of this expanded support, John Healey is expected confirm that UK will supply hundreds of thousands of artillery rounds and thousands of air defence missiles to Ukraine this year. These provisions are aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s operational capacity on the battlefield while enhancing its ability to defend against continued aerial threats.

This follows a newly agreed defence partnership between the UK and Ukraine, described as a world-leading initiative designed to counter the growing spread of low-cost, high-tech military systems, including drones. The agreement signals a deeper level of cooperation between the two countries, focused on boosting global defensive capabilities and adapting to the evolving nature of modern warfare.

UK continues to play a central role in coordinating international support for Ukraine. Healey is convening and co-chairing the Ukraine Defence Contact Group alongside Germany, working closely with allies across NATO and beyond to align assistance and maintain sustained backing for Ukraine.

Further support is also expected to be announced by Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer who is due to outline additional measures at a meeting of international finance ministers in Washington, D.C. This reflects a broader, coordinated approach by the UK government, combining military aid with economic and diplomatic efforts.

The announcement builds on previous commitments, including a £500 million air defence package unveiled in February at a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at NATO headquarters in Brussels. That package included £150 million allocated to NATO’s Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), enabling the rapid delivery of critical air defence interceptors.

It also covered the provision of more than 1,000 Lightweight Multirole Missiles, manufactured in Belfast, further strengthening Ukraine’s defensive capabilities.

These steps highlight the UK’s ongoing and expanding approach of combining immediate military support with long-term defence cooperation to ensure Ukraine is prepared to face current challenges while strengthening resilience for the future.