UK Delivers Hundreds of Missiles to Ukraine Months Ahead of Schedule
The United Kingdom delivered hundreds of missiles several months ahead of schedule and led a large trade delegation to Kyiv aimed at strengthening the defense partnership between the countries.
The Gaze reports this, referring to a press release of the British government.
UK Minister for Defense Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard led a British trade delegation that visited Kyiv as part of increased military support for Ukraine.
One of the key outcomes was the early delivery — five months ahead of schedule — of Belfast-made air defense missiles used to protect Ukrainian airspace. This move is part of a large-scale UK donation program that has already spent more than £4.5 billion in support of Ukraine this year.
“Driving industrial partnerships is essential so that we can learn from their expertise and together build the industrial base we need to defend the UK, deter our adversaries, and support Ukraine,” said Luke Pollard.
Thales is also moving into a new phase of cooperation with Ukrainian partners under a £1.6 billion contract that deepens the integration of British missiles into Ukraine's air defense system. It is said that manufacturing in Britain creates more than 200 new jobs and supports another 700, stimulating economic growth and technological development.
The British delegation's visit coincided with the International Conference on Ukraine's Defense Industry, where NATO representatives demonstrated a united industrial front in response to Russian aggression.
As The Gaze informed earlier, Ukraine and the United Kingdom are set to launch a joint initiative, the Octopus project, aimed at producing interceptor drones to counter the ongoing threat from Russian Shahed drones targeting Ukrainian civilian and energy infrastructure.
Initially, production will take place in the UK, with approximately 2,000 drones per month intended for shipment to Ukraine.
Read more on The Gaze: Why the West Needs Ukraine in Its Defense Industry