Ukraine’s armed forces shall be backed by extra superior assault drones to deal with Russian aggression within the Black Sea, following a deal struck by the UK authorities and an Anglo-American defence tech firm.
- The cope with Anduril UK has been agreed forward of the Defence Secretary’s assembly along with his US counterpart Pete Hegseth on the Pentagon right this moment.
- Throughout his go to to Washington D.C., John Healey MP met with employees at Anduril’s facility.
- The UK continues to work with allies to place Ukraine within the strongest place for peace because it continues to defend itself in opposition to Russian aggression.
Defence Secretary John Healey MP visited Anduril, the agency supplying the drones, in Washington D.C. forward of a gathering along with his US counterpart Pete Hegseth on the Pentagon right this moment.
The deal follows a gathering of world leaders in London final week, when the Prime Minister and allies agreed it was important that army assist continues for Ukraine to place the nation within the strongest potential place for peace because it continues to defend itself from Russian aggression.
The brand new contracts, totalling practically £30 million and backed by the Worldwide Fund for Ukraine, will end in Anduril UK supplying cutting-edge Altius 600m and Altius 700m drones – generally known as loitering munitions – which can be designed to observe an space earlier than putting targets that enter it.
The Defence Secretary visited Anduril yesterday, the place he spoke with various American and British employees. Based in California, Anduril continues to speculate considerably within the UK with a big footprint throughout the nation and plans to quickly scale, in keeping with the Authorities’s dedication to protecting the nation protected whereas offering extremely expert jobs.
Securing a long-lasting peace in Ukraine and strengthening bonds between NATO allies set to high the agenda when the Defence Secretary meets along with his US counterpart right this moment.
The go to follows Prime Minister Keir Starmer assembly the US President final week, and John Healey MP will hail the unparalleled depth of the UK’s particular relationship with the US – the UK’s closest safety ally – as each nations proceed to collaborate to bolster safety and assist financial progress.
The assembly follows the latest determination by the UK Authorities to lift defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by April 2027 – the largest sustained uplift for the reason that Chilly Struggle. Nationwide safety is a basis of our Plan for Change, and the Prime Minister and Defence Secretary have stated that Europe must take a better accountability for its safety, and that defence may be an engine for financial progress.
Defence Secretary, John Healey MP, stated:
We’re decided to attain a safe, lasting peace in Ukraine, which suggests placing Ukraine within the strongest potential place to forestall any return to Russian aggression.
The UK has already offered greater than 10,000 drones to Ukraine’s Armed Forces, which have proved very important in disrupting Russian troop advances and concentrating on positions behind the frontline.
With a £2.26 billion mortgage from seized Russian belongings, plus £1.6 billion price of air defence missiles introduced for Ukraine within the final week, the UK is continuous to indicate management in securing a long-lasting peace for Ukraine.
The work with Anduril UK been led by Defence Gear & Assist – the procurement arm of the MOD – on behalf of the UK-administered Worldwide Fund for Ukraine (IFU). The fund now stands at greater than £1.3 billion price of pledges from 10 different international locations, of which the UK has contributed £500 million.
Ukraine’s armed forces will take supply of the drones, launchers and spare elements over the approaching months.
Dr Wealthy Drake, MD of Anduril UK and Europe stated:
Anduril UK is proud to companion with the UK Authorities, working hand in glove to ship very important capabilities for the UK and its Allies. Our deal with growing and deploying expertise the place and when it’s wanted is on the core of the whole lot we do – from the fast supply of Altius to Ukraine to the growth of our presence right here within the UK. We look ahead to strengthening our partnership with the Ministry of Defence to guard our nation and our allies.
In January, it was introduced that 30,000 drones shall be despatched to Ukraine by the worldwide Drone Functionality Coalition, co-led by the UK and Latvia.
Since July 2024, the Authorities has offered over £5.26 billion in army help and monetary assist to Ukraine, together with a £3 billion annual army help and a £2.26 billion mortgage for army spending.
The British and US Armed Forces function in shut alignment around the globe, from the long-standing international coalition to fight Daesh within the Center East to joint maritime safety patrols within the Indo-Pacific.
The Defence Secretary’s go to to Washington D.C. comes because the UK receives the final of an order of fifty of the most recent era AH-64E assault helicopters for the British Military, probably the most superior assault helicopter on this planet. The helicopter was handed over this week on the Boeing website in Arizona underneath a programme that helps greater than 300 UK jobs, serving to to develop the UK financial system – underscoring defence as an engine for driving financial progress.
The go to additionally comes on the conclusion of the fiftieth incidence of Train Pink Flag in Nevada, a joint train with the UK, United States and Australia. The coaching is designed to check equally matched air forces in a sensible fight state of affairs and includes greater than 3,000 army personnel in high-intensity coaching, equivalent to dogfighting, air-policing and practising bombing runs, at Nellis Air Pressure Base.
Associated
Uncover extra from sUAS Information
Subscribe to get the most recent posts despatched to your electronic mail.