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Ukraine and UK Successfully Test OCTOPUS Interceptor Drones for Air Defense
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Ukraine and the United Kingdom have announced the first successful test flights of OCTOPUS interceptor drones, a key component of expanding air‑defense cooperation under the historic 100‑Year Partnership agreement between the two nations, Militarnyi reported on January 16.
The announcement was made by Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Defence, Hanna Hvozdiyar, during the “Britain–Ukraine: Centenary Partnership” forum, held to mark the first anniversary of the long‑term security pact between Kyiv and London.
“At yesterday’s trials, the first four units performed successfully, and these interceptors will soon be delivered to Ukraine,” Hvozdiyar said during a panel discussion focused on bilateral security cooperation. “I believe this also represents a very positive result for the century partnership agreement.”
The project represents the first scaled deployment of a defence product originally developed by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and produced with significant British support, she added, underscoring its importance for Ukraine’s ongoing air defense efforts.
Under the OCTOPUS programme, interceptor drones designed to counter enemy UAV attacks—including Iranian‑made Shahed attack drones—are being produced in the United Kingdom for delivery to Ukraine. The joint effort reflects growing military‑industrial cooperation between Kyiv and London.
British defence officials say the interceptor systems are expected to be cheaper and more scalable than traditional anti‑air missile systems, offering Ukraine an affordable way to defend critical infrastructure and population centers from mass drone attacks.
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The OCTOPUS platform was developed in Ukraine with support from British engineers and technicians, and has already shown promise in operational contexts, sources say. Thousands of units are planned to be produced monthly and supplied to Ukrainian forces.
The drone programme was unveiled as part of a broader shift toward long‑term defence cooperation and technology sharing under the pact, which includes joint initiatives to strengthen air defense, integrate industrial capabilities, and support Ukraine’s defence production capacity.
Earlier, it was reported that Ukraine and Britain signed a road map in Kyiv on Friday to develop a century-long defense partnership and set out key areas of defense cooperation for 2026.
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