Britain will build drones with Ukraine in a “first-of-its-kind” project in response to ongoing Russian aggression.
Defence Secretary John Healey is expected to announce the plan on Thursday as one of the first practical results of an agreement between the UK and Ukraine to cooperate on certain technologies.
The interceptor drones will be manufactured in Britain using a Ukrainian design, and will be used to take out incoming one-way attack drones, such as those Russia fired into Polish airspace on Tuesday night.
The partnership will aim to produce thousands of the interceptors every month under “Project Octopus”, which will then be delivered to Kyiv.
PICTURED: View from the camera of an interceptor drone inspecting a device on July 18, 2025 in Donetsk Region
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GETTY
It is understood Mr Healey will announce the project during a speech on Thursday at the DSEI defence trade show in London.
He will say: “This deal is a first of its kind, giving UK industry unprecedented access to the latest equipment designs, supporting Ukraine in its fight to defend against Putin’s illegal invasion and showing how defence can be an engine for growth.”
Sir Keir Starmer is set to label the announcement a “landmark moment” – and proof that British support for Ukraine “will not falter”.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky set a target in July for his country to produce 500 to 1,000 interceptor drones every day.
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Defence Secretary John Healey is expected to announce the plan on Thursday
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PA
Earlier this summer, cooperation between Ukraine and the UK to manufacture drones was announced.
Then, last week, Mr Healey travelled to Ukraine and signed a deal expanding the partnership into the joint ownership of intellectual property.
The drone design which will be used in “Project Octopus” is already being used in the war to down Russia’s Shahed drones at a much cheaper rate.
In recent weeks, Russian aggression against Ukraine has escalated, and spread into neighbouring countries.
Three regions of eastern Poland were marked ‘most vulnerable’ during the Russian drone incursion on September 10
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GB NEWSMoscow is now capable of firing as many drones in a single evening as it was over an entire month last year, and swarms of more than 500 drones are common.
Early on Wednesday morning, Russian drones were shot down over Poland after they crossed the border from Ukraine.
The Polish military released a statement saying its airspace was “repeatedly violated” by drones.
Donald Tusk, the Polish Prime Minister, said: “I have no reason to claim we are on the brink of war, but a line has been crossed, and it is incomparably more dangerous than before.
“The situation brings us the closest we have been to open conflict since World War Two.”
