The international Drone Capability Coalition, co-led by the UK and Latvia, secured $55 million (£45 million) in contracts to supply 30,000 drones to Ukraine, UK Defence Secretary John Healey announced at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting at Ramstein Air Base on January 9.
The drones, designed for both surveillance and attack, will significantly enhance Ukraine’s ability to counter Russian forces. These first-person-view drones are equipped to evade Russian air defenses and target enemy positions and armored vehicles.
Funding for the program comes from the UK, Denmark, the Netherlands, Latvia, and Sweden.
“The fierce courage of the Ukrainian people continues to inspire the world, and this meeting of more than 50 nations sends a clear message to Putin about the international community’s unwavering support for Ukraine,” said Healey.
The UK has doubled its investment in the Drone Capability Coalition’s Common Fund to $18.5 million (£15 million) since November. The fund has raised $90 million (£73 million) in total from coalition members to date.
Additionally, the UK-administered International Fund for Ukraine now exceeds $1.6 billion (£1.3 billion), with $615 million (£500 million) contributed by the UK alone. The fund supports Ukraine’s long-term defense strategy, including advanced weapons systems, training programs, and military infrastructure development.
Healey emphasized the UK’s broader commitment to Ukraine, including the Ministry of Defence’s plan for Ukraine’s defense strategy through 2025.
“Our commitment to providing $3.7 billion (£3 billion) a year of military aid for as long as it takes will ensure Ukraine can defend itself and is essential to protect the security of the UK—because the defense of the UK starts in Ukraine,” Healey stated.
Earlier, reports emerged that Russian victory in Ukraine could cost the United States an additional $808 billion in defense spending through 2029.
