- Ukraine's largest drone manufacturers open new factory in
Suffolk, creating up to 500 jobs and boosting economic growth.
- Factory to produce cutting-edge drones, providing critical
support in Ukraine's fight for freedom, four years on from
Putin's illegal invasion.
- The UK stands with Ukraine, with over £1 billion committed
for the country's air defences since July 2024.
Ukraine's Armed Forces will be able to better defend itself
against Russia's brutal attacks after one of Ukraine's largest
drone manufacturers opens a new factory in Suffolk.
Four years on from Putin's illegal invasion, the UK is backing
Ukraine by hosting a new Ukrspecsystems production facility in
East Anglia. The UK has previously ordered over 80 SHARK and
Mini-SHARK drones from Ukrspecystems' factories in Ukraine, which
help save Ukrainian lives by combatting Russia's war effort.
In a vote of confidence for the UK, Ukrspecsystems chose sites in
Mildenhall and Elmsett in Suffolk for their new drone
factory and testing and training facility. The company's £200
million investment will create up to 500 British jobs at the
sites and broader UK supply chain.
Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry MP said:
“Our resolve to support Ukraine is stronger than ever, and we are
backing Ukraine's defiant Armed Forces as they fight for
peace.
“Ukrspecsystems' new factory is a vote of confidence in UK
support and underlines the deepening cooperation between our
nations' defence industries. This investment will create up
to 500 new jobs in the East of England, drive defence as an
engine for growth, and help Ukraine defend itself against Putin's
aggression.”
The facility was opened by Defence Minister yesterday, reaffirming the
UK's continued support for Ukraine. This follows more than £1
billion committed to support Ukraine's air defences since July
2024, helping Ukraine defend itself against Russian drone attacks
on civilians and critical infrastructure.
Ukrspecsystems is a Ukrainian drone company, founded in 2014,
which produces a wide variety of drones, including the PD-2 and
SHARK-M surveillance drones which communicate autonomously with
strike drones to identify, track and destroy Russian
targets. Ukrspecsystems' drones have contributed to almost $3
billion of damage to Putin's war machine since the onset of the
full-scale invasion.
The UK has separately started producing Octopus interceptor
drones, aiming to ramp up to thousands per month, designed to
take out Russian Shaheeds and other weapons at a fraction of the
cost, part of the Ministry of Defence's £4.5 billion military
support package.
Today's news is a clear demonstration of the 100 Year
Partnership in action - establishing stronger and
closer defence cooperation and industrial bases between the UK
and Ukraine.
It also follows the announcement of a new business centre in Kyiv
which will enable Britain's cutting-edge defence industry and
innovators to step up their work to equip Ukraine's Armed Forces.
Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK General Valerii Zaluzhnyi
said:
“This factory represents more than industrial cooperation – it is
part of a new European security architecture built on shared
responsibility and shared production. Ukraine brings battlefield
experience and innovation, and together with the United Kingdom
we are strengthening the capabilities needed to deter
aggression.”
The UK's Defence Industrial Strategy is making it easier
for defence business to operate in the UK, driving economic
growth and supporting the government's support for Ukraine,
in line with the Strategic Defence Review.
Director of Ukrspecsystems UK Rory Chamberlain
said:
“Four years on from Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, this
factory delivers what matters: secure supply, secure resource,
and sustained support for Ukraine. By establishing production in
the UK, Ukrspecsystems are increasing the resilience of the UK's
defence industrial base, and providing a trusted supply chain
that ensures that the drones relied upon by the Ukrainian Armed
Forces can be built and scaled without interruption.
“Delivered with UK and Ukrainian Government support and in
partnership with British SMEs, this is ‘Made with Ukraine' in
action - embodying the UK-Ukraine 100-Year Partnership through
real industrial capability, happening now in East Anglia.”
