Ukrainian Drone Maker Opens Production Site in England
A Ukrainian drone manufacturer has established a production facility in England, a move intended to bolster the supply of critical equipment to Ukraine’s armed forces amid the ongoing Russian invasion. The development highlights the increasing reliance on domestically sourced and allied-produced weaponry as the conflict continues. Ukrspecsystems has invested £200 million (approximately $229 million USD) in the project, which includes a production site in Mildenhall and a testing location in Elmsett, both in eastern England, according to a statement from the British Ministry of Defence.
“Four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, this facility delivers what matters: a secure supply, secured resources, and continued support for Ukraine,” said Rory Chamberlain, Ukrspecsystems’ director for the UK, as quoted in the ministry’s statement. He emphasized that the site “ensures that drones used by the Ukrainian armed forces can be manufactured and deployed at a larger scale without interruption,” adding that such infrastructure could be vulnerable to Russian strikes within Ukraine.
Several other Ukrainian arms companies have already opened, or are planning to open, production sites elsewhere in Europe, including in Denmark and Germany. This trend reflects a strategic effort to decentralize production and safeguard vital military supplies.
Even as the specific types of drones to be produced in England have not been disclosed, the company, founded in 2014, manufactures surveillance drones, 80 of which the UK has already purchased for Ukrainian troops. The announcement could influence future defense procurement decisions by other allied nations.
“The recent Ukrspecsystems site is a testament to the confidence placed in UK support and illustrates the deepening cooperation between the defense industries of our two nations,” stated British Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard, who inaugurated the site on Wednesday. The development underscores growing regional tensions and the commitment of Western allies to supporting Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
