The UK Ministry of Defence has confirmed that over 85,000 military drones have been supplied to Ukraine in the past six months, supported by £600 million in new funding to accelerate domestic production. The large-scale effort highlights Britain’s emergence as Europe’s leading drone provider and a driving force in NATO’s unmanned warfare strategy.
The package includes tens of thousands of FPV attack and reconnaissance drones, logistics UAVs, and interceptor systems designed to counter Russia’s Shahed drones. Under the Drone Capability Coalition, co-led with Latvia, London plans to add 35,000 additional interceptors in the coming months. A joint UK-Ukrainian project, the “Octopus” interceptor, is also being scaled for mass production.
One of the most notable systems in this delivery wave is the Malloy Aeronautics T150, a heavy-lift quadcopter capable of carrying 68 kilograms using eight electric motors and quick-swap batteries. With a top speed of 30 m/s and an operational range between 13 and 37 kilometers, it enables rapid resupply across contested zones.
Another key platform is the Tekever AR3, a ship-capable ISR drone with endurance of up to 16 hours and communications range of 230 kilometers in its new AR3 Evo version. This system expands Ukraine’s surveillance and electronic warfare capabilities across maritime and river environments.
For long-range logistics, the Windracers ULTRA Mk2 twin-engine UAV offers 150 kg payload capacity and 1,000 km range, allowing palletized or parachute delivery of supplies deep into the battlefield.
The mass deployment of FPV drones has shortened Ukraine’s kill chain, enhancing precision strikes against Russian armor and logistics networks. Meanwhile, the upcoming Octopus interceptors are designed to provide a low-cost defensive layer against waves of Russian Shahed drones.
With defense spending projected to rise to 2.6% of GDP by 2027, and the RAF’s Eastern Sentry mission extended through 2025, the UK is positioning itself as Europe’s primary drone hub and a leader in NATO’s unmanned strategy. For Ukraine, these efforts translate into more sensors, more strike options, and sustained battlefield resilience ahead of the coming winter.
