“This new partnership is a landmark moment, bringing together British and Ukrainian ingenuity to deliver cutting-edge defence drone technology to fight back against Russian aggression,” British PM Keir Starmer said.
The United Kingdom has agreed to provide Ukraine with 1,000 interceptor drones per month.
Under “Project Octopus,” the United Kingdom will develop and produce up to 1,000 unmanned aerial systems each month for the Ukrainian Armed Forces—intended to intercept Russian missiles and drones targeting Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure.
What to Know About the UK’s “Project Octopus”
Designed to counter incoming ballistic and cruise missiles and suicide drones, interceptor drones are designed to intercept incoming munitions mid-flight and crash into them before they reach their targets.
British scientists and technicians have already successfully tested the unmanned aerial system developed under Project Octopus against Iranian-made Shahed suicide drones used by the Russian military.
“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 as we deliver on our Plan for Change,” British Defence Secretary John Healy stated in a press statement.
The Shahed drones carry a 90-lb high explosive payload and have an operational range of almost 1,300 miles. At approximately $35,000 per drone, they are relatively cheap and easy to manufacture. But the interceptor drone developed by the UK is even cheaper, with an estimated cost of only $3,500. This is important in the economics of warfare; using expensive air defense weapon systems to shoot down cheap suicide drones is inefficient and unsustainable in the long run.
“As Russia continues its egregious and unrelenting attacks on Ukraine, the UK’s support will not falter, and we alongside our allies will continue to step up,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.
The United Kingdom is investing heavily in unmanned aerial systems. In 2025, London will invest approximately $475 million (£350 million) to increase its supply of drones to Ukraine from 10,000 to 100,000. The sheer number of the ambitious program highlights the prevalence and importance of unmanned aerial systems in the daily fighting between the two combatants. Only this week, Russian drones entered Polish airspace, forcing NATO fighter jets and air defense systems to react.
“This new partnership is a landmark moment, bringing together British and Ukrainian ingenuity to deliver cutting-edge defence drone technology to fight back against Russian aggression,” the British leader added.
Amid American Uncertainty, the UK Is Committed to Ukraine
Following America’s reluctance to continue providing military aid to Ukraine under the current administration, the United Kingdom has stepped in, leading the international effort to support Ukraine’s fight against Russia. Although the United States remains by far the single-largest contributor of security assistance to Ukraine, with almost $70 billion worth of weapon systems and munitions since the war started in 2022, the UK and other European countries are doing much to keep the Ukrainian forces fighting effectively.
“The Ukrainians continue to fight with huge courage, military and civilian alike. The UK will continue stepping up for to support them in the fight tonight, while we work together through the Coalition of the Willing to secure a just and lasting peace for Ukraine in the future,” Healy added—referencing the “Coalition of the Willing,” a loose coalition comprising dozens of countries in support of Ukraine.
About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
Image: Shutterstock / paparazzza.
