The UK will begin large-scale production of advanced interceptor drones to help Ukraine defend against Russian aerial assaults.
The drones, designed by Ukraine with support from British scientists, are highly effective at destroying the one-way attack aircraft Moscow continues to launch at Ukrainian cities, according to the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
The announcement comes after suspected Russian drones that violated Polish airspace during overnight attacks on Ukraine were shot down by Polish and NATO forces.
It was the first time a NATO country is known to have fired shots during Russia’s war in Ukraine, raising concerns that the conflict is escalating. Britain said it was looking to help reinforce Poland’s air defences.
Defence Secretary John Healey is set to share more details about the new drone project at a trade show in London today. It is the first initiative under a technology-sharing agreement with Kyiv.
‘A first of its kind deal’
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called the joint project “a landmark moment” and said the UK will continue to step up its support for Ukraine alongside allies.
The MoD has said the new drones have already proved effective against the Iranian Shahed drones used by Russia, and are much cheaper to produce than traditional air defence missiles.
Sir Keir and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy unveiled the UK-Ukraine industrial partnership earlier this summer.
The agreement was expanded last week in Kyiv, where the defence secretary signed a deal enabling the joint development and sharing of intellectual property.
“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,” Mr Healey said.
On Wednesday, Mr Healey held talks with defence officials from Poland, Italy, France and Germany, and condemned Russia’s “reckless” incursion into Polish airspace.
He said he asked the UK Armed Forces to look at options to bolster NATO’s air defence over Poland.
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Escalating tensions
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the incursion by Russian drones marked “the closest we have been to open conflict since World War Two”, but added that there was “no reason to believe we’re on the brink of war”.
He said his country has asked that NATO’s Article 4 be invoked, which allows alliance members to consult with other members on issues. Unlike Article 5, which has only been invoked once, Article 4 has been invoked seven times in NATO’s history.
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Moscow denied responsibility for the incident, with the Russian defence ministry saying its drones had carried out a major attack in western Ukraine, but it had not planned to hit any locations in Poland.
NATO fighter jets were scrambled on Tuesday night in response to suspected Russian drones that had reportedly begun crossing into Polish airspace, with the incursion continuing into the early hours, according to officials.
Poland reported that 19 aerial objects, many originating from Belarus, entered its airspace during a Russian assault on Ukraine. Those deemed a threat were intercepted and shot down.
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Poland’s interior ministry confirmed the recovery of seven drones and debris from a missile.
The EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, warned that “Russia’s war is escalating” and called on the bloc to “raise the cost on Moscow” and invest in Europe’s defence.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said the EU and NATO “accuse Russia of provocations on a daily basis” and “most of the time without even trying to present at least some kind of argument”.
