30,000 drones will be sent to Ukraine after £45 million worth of
contracts were placed by the international Drone Capability
Coalition, co-led by the UK and Latvia as the UK steps up
leadership supporting Ukraine in 2025.
Defence Secretary announced this milestone
alongside Latvian Defence Minister Andris Sprūds at the Ukraine
Defence Contact Group held at Ramstein Air Base today [Thursday 9
January].
Healey arrived last night for talks with the US Secretary of
Defense Lloyd Austin at the US Air Base.
The Drone Capability Coalition supports Ukraine with uncrewed
surveillance and attack capabilities. Funding for the new 30,000
drones comes from UK, Denmark, Netherlands, Latvia and
Sweden.
These state-of-the-art, first-person view drones will help
Ukraine fight against Russian aggression, allowing Ukraine's
Armed Forces to manoeuvre past Russian air defences to target
enemy positions and armoured vehicles.
Today's announcement follows the UK's £7.5 million investment for
the Drone Capability Coalition's Common Fund, set out in
November, and brings the UK's total investment in the fund to £15
million to date. So far, the fund has raised around £73 million
from the UK and partners.
As well as this, the Defence Secretary confirmed that the
UK-administered International Fund for Ukraine now stands at over
£1.3 billion, of which the UK has contributed £500 million.
He also outlined the Ministry of Defence's plan for Ukraine's
Defence in 2025 to more than 50 allies and partners gathered for
the meeting. discussed the plan with
Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov in Kyiv in December.
Defence Secretary MP said:
“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.
“I am proud of the UK's leadership in supporting Ukraine.
From heading coalitions which are delivering essential equipment
alongside allies, to training recruits, we're standing strong
with Ukraine against Putin's aggression.
“Our commitment to provide £3 billion a year of military
aid for as long as it takes will ensure Ukraine can defend
themselves and is essential to protect the security of the UK –
because the defence of the UK starts in Ukraine.”
In a further sign of the strength of international support for
Ukraine's efforts to repel Russia's illegal invasion, more than
£190 million of extra funding has been committed to the
UK-administered International Fund for
Ukraine by allies and partners, with Portugal and Germany
contributing for the first time.
The fund uses financial contributions from international partners
to rapidly procure priority military equipment for Ukraine. The
new contributions include:
- £67 million from Denmark for capabilities including drones,
air defence systems and training equipment
- £59 million from Norway for specialist capabilities including
drones and maritime training
- £43 million from Portugal for intelligence, surveillance and
reconnaissance drones
- £20 million from Sweden to fund the repair of Archer
self-propelled artillery systems and maritime training
- £4 million from Germany for maritime training
- £1 million from Iceland to fund coastal radars
Since taking office in July, the government has stepped
up international leadership supporting Ukraine and demonstrated
its ironclad support, committing to £3 billion of military
support to Ukraine every year for as long as it takes. In
October, an extra £2.26 billion was announced, using the profits
from seized Russian assets.
The meeting of allies and partners at Ramstein follows the
Defence Secretary's visit
to Kyiv last month, where he met with his counterpart Rustem
Umerov, to discuss the priority areas for UK defence support
and announced a new £225 million package, including £186m from
the International Fund for Ukraine, of military support.
The government is clear that the UK's defence starts in Ukraine,
and that providing military support is essential to promote both
the UK's national security and stability in Europe.
As part of the Plan for Ukraine's Defence in 2025, the UK's
continued leadership on the war in Ukraine throughout 2025 will
see an increase to Ukraine's military capability; will build on
the success of Operation Interflex by enhancing the training
offered to Ukraine; will strengthen defence industrial
cooperation; will increase cooperation with our allies to support
Ukraine; and will increase pressure on Russia.
