UK finalizes deal to supply attack drones to Ukraine

LONDON -- The United Kingdom (UK) has finalized a 30 million pounds ($38.70 million) deal with defense tech company Anduril to supply Ukraine with advanced attack drones, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement on Thursday.

The agreement was secured during UK Defense Secretary John Healey's visit to Anduril's Washington DC facility ahead of talks with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon.

Under the deal, Ukraine will receive Altius 600m and Altius 700m drones, classified as "loitering munitions" capable of surveilling designated areas and striking targets. Deliveries of drones, launchers, and spare parts will commence in the coming months, the statement said.

The deal is funded through the UK-administered International Fund for Ukraine (IFU), which is supported by pledges from 10 nations, now totals 1.3 billion pounds, with the UK contributing 500 million pounds.

The agreement comes amid concerns over the US decision to halt intelligence-sharing with Ukraine, potentially hampering Kyiv's access to critical data.

The UK has emphasized its continued military support for Ukraine. Since July 2024, the UK has provided over 5.26 billion pounds in military and financial aid to Ukraine, including 10,000 drones already deployed. (1 pound = 1.29 US dollar)