The U.K. Ministry of Defence said it is increasing its drone supply to Ukraine tenfold, taking the total target for this year to 100,000, after Kyiv’s stunning Operation Spiderweb saw drones destroy Moscow’s strategic bombers deep inside Russian territory.

Ukraine’s special services said it had completed a daring operation to launch 117 drones smuggled near Russian airfields in trucks and which took out 41 aircraft—including a number of irreplaceable nuclear bombers—causing $7 billion in damage on June 1.

Why It Matters

The escalation in U.K. drone deliveries comes as European allies consider how best to continue supporting Ukraine, with Russia making advances on the battlefield and the Trump administration signaling that the end is likely near for U.S. aid to Kyiv.

An increase in the drone supply—in addition to their effectiveness in combat operations—is reflective of a strategic adaptation by NATO to new forms of warfare that increasingly rely on unmanned systems.

What to Know

The 100,000 target represents a £350-million ($473-million) investment in drones alone, the ministry said in its release, adding that Ukrainian units had said British-provided drones helped to stabilize areas of the front line and kill more enemy personnel than artillery.

John Healey, the British defence secretary, said the NATO ally is “stepping up its support for Ukraine” with a £4.5-billion ($6.1-billion) package of military aid in 2025, and that the U.K. has completed a delivery of 140,000 artillery munitions since the start of the year.

“We are learning lessons every day from the battlefield in Ukraine, which British companies are using to develop advanced new drones to help protect Ukraine’s civilians and also strengthen our own national security,” Healey said in a statement.

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Featured image: Ukraine’s Operation Spider’s Web (Licensed under CC BY 4.0)

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