UK to deliver largest-ever drone package to Ukraine – 120,000 UAVs by end of year

The UK has announced its largest-ever drone supply package for Ukraine, which includes the transfer of at least 120,000 unmanned aerial vehicles by the end of this year.

As reported by the UK government, 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 that have 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.

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," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.

The announcement from London came as 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, Healey will also confirm that the UK will provide Ukraine with hundreds of thousands of artillery shells and thousands of air defence missiles this year.

The Ukraine Defence Contact Group will meet in Germany on 15 April. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will take part in the meeting.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is again expected to skip the Ramstein meeting.