Camilla Jessen
Britain pledged on Wednesday to supply 100,000 drones to Ukraine by the end of the current financial year in April 2026.
Britain has pledged to deliver 100,000 drones to Ukraine by April 2026.
This was announced by Reuters ahead of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting in Brussels and is part of a £350 million package specifically earmarked for drones.
The initiative falls within the UK’s broader £4.5 billion military assistance program to Ukraine.
Defense Secretary John Healey is expected to unveil the expanded drone plan at the summit, co-hosted with Germany and attended by representatives from over 50 nations.
A Strategic Leap
“This tenfold increase in drone delivery reflects the transformational role UAVs now play in modern conflicts,” Healey said in a government statement released prior to the meeting.
The UK government emphasized that drones have “revolutionized” warfare in Ukraine, providing Kyiv with new ways to counter Russian forces in an asymmetric war that has increasingly relied on technological innovation.
According to British officials, the expanded drone commitment is intended to give Ukraine critical operational advantages, from surveillance and targeting to logistics and offensive strikes.
A Broader Military Push
Beyond the drone deliveries, Britain confirmed that it had already completed a shipment of 140,000 artillery shells to Ukraine since January — a milestone in logistical support.
An additional £247 million will be allocated this year for training Ukrainian soldiers, including specialized programs in combined arms tactics and battlefield integration.
These measures align with the conclusions of the UK’s newly approved strategic defense review, which recommends building a “more lethal, technology-driven military” to confront rising global threats — including the potential for Russian aggression.
The UK has consistently ranked among Ukraine’s most reliable military allies, supplying everything from tanks and long-range missiles to training and intelligence support.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s government sees its defense posture not only as support for Ukraine but also as an investment in European security.
This latest announcement comes as Ukraine enters its third year of resisting Russia’s invasion, with both sides increasingly relying on drone warfare to shape the front lines.
While the drones will be delivered in phases over the next 18 months, their impact could be felt much sooner, with UK defense officials suggesting initial batches are already en route.