The UK has announced its largest-ever drone supply package for Ukraine, including the transfer of at least 120,000 unmanned aerial vehicles by the end of the year. According to the Ministry of Defence in its press release, the new military aid package – the largest provided by the UK in terms of UAV deliveries – will include thousands of long-range attack drones, reconnaissance UAVs, logistics drones and maritime capabilities.
Everything in the package has reportedly already been tested in combat on the front in Ukraine. Deliveries of the new UAVs began this month. “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,” Defence Secretary John Healey said. “With eyes on the Middle East in recent weeks, [Vladimir] 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.”
The new drone package is backed by the UK’s wider £3billion military support for Ukraine this year, as well as ERA funding. The Ministry also confirm that the UK will be providing hundreds of thousands of artillery rounds and thousands of air defence missiles for Ukraine this year.
This follows the new defence partnership, agreed last month, that will see the UK and Ukraine work together to boost global defensive capability against the proliferation of low-cost, high-tech military hardware, including drones.
The announcement comes as Mr Healey travels to Berlin to co-chair the 34th meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group – also known as the Ramstein format – which is expected to bring together 50 countries. At the meeting, the Defence Minister will also confirm that the UK will provide Ukraine with hundreds of thousands of artillery shells and thousands of air defence missiles this year.
Mr Healey’s US counterpart, Pete Hegseth, is again expected to skip the Ramstein meeting.
The Ukraine Defence Contact Group will meet in Germany on April 15, with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also set to take part.
In total, as of March 2026, the UK has committed up to £21.8billion for Ukraine, including £13billion in military support (including the £2.3billion ERA Loan contribution) and up to £5.3billion in non-military support, including bilateral assistance and fiscal guarantees.
