Ukraine to Get Thousands of Drones Worth Over $125M

Ukraine is set to receive thousands of drones worth over $125 million, with the U.K. pledging $58 million (£45 million) for 30,000 FPV drones and Norway committing $67 million (€60 million) for additional drone support.

The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has highlighted the need for additional drones, among other capabilities.

The U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey announced the plan during the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting at Ramstein Air Base, alongside Latvian Defence Minister Andris Sprūds. The international Drone Capability Coalition, co-led by the U.K. and Latvia, facilitated the contracts for these drones. Funding comes from multiple NATO members, including Denmark, the Netherlands, Latvia, and Sweden.

The FPV drones are expected to enhance Ukraine’s ability to navigate Russian air defenses and target enemy positions and vehicles effectively. The initiative is part of a broader effort by the Drone Coalition, which was formed in February 2024 to supply diverse drones to Ukraine. The coalition, comprising 17 nations such as Canada, France, Germany, and Poland, operates a joint fund for drone procurement and innovation.

Norway’s contribution includes drones for protecting critical infrastructure and supporting frontline operations. Norwegian Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram emphasized the importance of coalitions in delivering both immediate and long-term support for Ukraine’s defense against Russia.

International Fund for Ukraine

In a further sign of international support for Ukraine, more than $245 million (£190 million) has been committed to the U.K.-administered International Fund for Ukraine (IFU) by allies and partners, with Portugal and Germany contributing for the first time. The fund quickly procures military equipment for Ukraine.

New contributions include £67 million ($86 million) from Denmark for drones, air defence, and training; £59 million ($76 million) from Norway for drones and maritime training; £43 million ($56 million) from Portugal for drones; £20 million ($26 million) from Sweden for artillery repairs and maritime training; £4 million ($5 million) from Germany for maritime training; and £1 million ($1.3 million) from Iceland for coastal radars.

The IFU, administered by the U.K. Ministry of Defence, demonstrates continued international support for Ukraine and ensures military supply through 2025. Partners, including Iceland, Australia, and Germany, have pledged over £1.3 billion to date. The fund uses rapid procurement to deliver key capabilities, including artillery ammunition, drones, boats, ISR systems, electronic warfare, uncrewed vehicles, air defence, mine clearance, and combat vehicle spares. The IFU runs alongside other national and multinational support routes for Ukraine.