Photo credit: Framestock/stock.adobe.com


Yet the MAA has been streamlining


approval processes and trying to build frameworks for rapid UAS experimentation. At the end of the day, Ukraine is vast and at war; we are a small island with limited test ranges. This brings us to limited UK drone


involvement with Ukraine, beyond financial aid and efforts to source drones and components on the international market through the Drone Coalition. Some companies have moved


Photo credit: Ernest/stock.adobe.com


quickly, such as TEKEVER and Modini, improving their drones over several years in wartime conditions. As originally intended, the coalition has helped initiate UK- Ukraine joint production, after some bureaucratic bumps, and will ramp up UK drone orders. A huge package for Ukraine announced in June will have a strong


16 Advance | Autumn 2026


UK manufacturing focus, boosting companies such as Malloy, Windracers and Callen-Lenz, which have already sent their systems to Ukraine. Many UK firms now have offices in Ukraine or are partnered with Ukrainian companies. Meanwhile, growing drone firms such as Germany’s Stark and Helsing are also set to expand production in the UK.


Parts of the checklist are therefore falling into place. There will be bumps in the road, including defence inflation and questions over UK access to the European SAFE fund. UK defence reform will not be a quick process. That said, it is clear that the


ingredients are in place for momentum, and 2026 could be a decisive year. Ukraine did not create the UK's


drone industry. It may, however, provide the accelerator it needs.


OPINION


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