Ukrainian Drone Maker to Build £200 Million Plant in the UK
Ukrainian defense technology company Ukrspecsystems plans to build a major drone manufacturing facility in Britain.
The Gaze reports this, referring to the UK Defence Journal.
The £200 million ($260 million) investment will be located in Mildenhall, Eastern England, where construction of an 11,000-square-meter plant is set to begin. The project also includes a testing and training range in Elmsett.
The facility is expected to create up to 500 jobs and provide internship opportunities for local residents. Recruitment of British staff will start by the end of 2025, with serial production of drones scheduled to begin in early 2026.
UK Minister for Defence Procurement Maria Eagle welcomed the announcement, saying the partnership demonstrates Britain’s recognition of Ukraine’s advanced unmanned aerial systems.
“We stand united with Ukraine and we recognise its world-leading drone capabilities. By collaborating with Ukrainian companies like Ukrspecsystems we will benefit from access to cutting-edge designs and innovative technologies, strengthening the UK’s Armed Forces and those of our partners,” she said.
Local officials emphasized the importance of the project for the region. Richard Smith, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance, Economic Development and Skills, described the investment as a major opportunity for East Anglia.
He noted that the area’s strong business networks and tradition of innovation made it a natural fit for Ukrspecsystems’ expansion into the UK.
Smith added that the council, working through Norfolk and Suffolk Unlimited, had been able to provide targeted support to help secure the deal, underlining the region’s appeal to international investors.
Founded in 2014, Ukrspecsystems has become Ukraine’s leading producer of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Its Shark and PD-2 drones have been widely deployed in military operations. The company also provides full training and operational support services.
As The Gaze informed earlier, the Ukrainian technology cluster Brave1 already accepted 45 foreign applications for weapons testing as part of the Test in Ukraine initiative.