The British government wants to support Ukraine with a total of 10,000 drones. British Defense Minister Grant Shapps announced this on Thursday evening after a visit to Kiev. France, in turn, plans to produce military equipment through defense companies on Ukrainian territory.
London will increase its existing commitment to drones worth 200 million pounds (234 million euros) to 325 million pounds (380 million euros), Shapps wrote on X (formerly Twitter, see below). “Drones change the course of war,” said the defense minister.
Kamikaze, reconnaissance and naval drones
According to a statement from his ministry, this mainly concerns so-called FPV (First Person View) drones. They can be controlled from a cockpit perspective. The British statement continued that these were used successfully to evade Russian air defenses and hit their targets. There are also 1,000 kamikaze drones, as well as reconnaissance and naval drones.
Shapps said Ukrainian forces used British weapons to destroy almost 30 percent of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. Drones have proven to be highly effective, according to the statement. Together with Latvia, Britain wants to lead an international coalition to build up Ukraine’s drone capabilities.
France wants to produce in Ukraine
“Three French companies will collaborate with Ukrainian companies, mainly in the field of drones and land equipment, to produce spare parts on Ukrainian territory,” Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said.
The first production facilities should start in the summer. He suggests that this includes the tank manufacturer KNDS, which also includes the French arms company Nexter and the German Krauss-Maffei-Wegmann.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
