Fibre-optic drones: Ukraine doubles its arsenal in 4 months

In less than four months, Ukraine is about to reach last year's total number of fibre-optic drones used. The United Kingdom has committed to supplying at least 120,000 drones to Ukraine by the end of 2026, the largest batch ever delivered by London since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Announced on 15 April by Defence Secretary John Healey, just before the Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting in Berlin, the programme has already started deliveries.

The batch includes long-range strike drones, intelligence and reconnaissance systems, logistics platforms and maritime capabilities, all combat-tested on the Ukrainian front. The main suppliers are three British companies: Tekever, Windracers and Malloy Aeronautics. According to FlightGlobal, the contract is worth around £752 million (one billion dollars). This effort is part of a £3 billion overall military support package, which also includes hundreds of thousands of artillery shells and thousands of anti-aircraft missiles.