Trade mission boosts Kyiv defence ties
Hundreds of British-made air defence missiles have been delivered to Ukraine five months ahead of schedule, as the UK deepens its military and industrial partnership with Kyiv.
The announcement came as Defence Minister Luke Pollard led a major UK trade delegation to the Ukrainian capital for the International Defence Industry Conference, where companies from across NATO showcased their support for Ukraine’s war effort.
Belfast-built weapons boost jobs
The Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM), manufactured in Belfast by Thales, are already credited with protecting Ukrainian cities from Russian air attacks. Their early delivery marks a key milestone in a £1.6 billion agreement to strengthen Ukraine’s air defences and expand its sovereign defence manufacturing capacity.
Production of the missiles has created 200 new jobs in the UK and supports a further 700 existing roles, contributing to the government’s plan to drive growth through high-value manufacturing.
Pollard said: “The UK is stepping up our ironclad commitment to help Ukraine defend itself. This year alone we are spending £4.5 billion on military support for Ukraine – more than ever before.”
Growing industrial partnership
The UK trade mission – the largest of its kind to Kyiv – also highlighted new industrial ventures, including a £200 million investment by Ukraine’s largest drone manufacturer, Ukrspecsystems, to build two new facilities in Britain, creating 500 skilled jobs.
The move follows the launch of Programme LYRA, a joint technology initiative allowing the UK and Ukraine to co-develop next-generation defence systems, including Project OCTOPUS – a new air defence interceptor drone designed to counter Russian attack drones at a fraction of the cost of traditional missiles.
United front against aggression
Kevin Craven, CEO of defence trade body ADS, said: “The UK’s defence industry stands united in our efforts to increase production capacity and build a resilient industrial ecosystem that endures against the most trying of circumstances.”
Pollard added that the visit reflected “a united multinational industrial front” and a commitment to help Ukraine build long-term defence resilience.
The UK government said the partnership represents a “100-year friendship” between the two nations – one that will strengthen security, boost jobs and reinforce Europe’s collective defence against Russian aggression.
