Ukraine and the United Kingdom are teaming up to mass-produce thousands of Octopus-100 interceptor drones.
This marks the first time a Ukrainian combat drone will be built in a NATO country.
The Octopus-100, developed in Ukraine, is an autonomous interceptor drone designed to detect and destroy enemy UAVs mid-air using onboard sensors and advanced targeting systems.
Its mass production abroad underscores a shift toward building a sustainable defense supply chain through allied industrial bases, ensuring faster replenishment of frontline equipment.
The agreement also signals a growing role for London as a manufacturing and testing hub for defense systems developed by Kyiv, a move that could set a precedent for other NATO members.
The deal is a new stage in Ukraine–UK defense cooperation, which aims to accelerate drone deliveries to Ukrainian forces, bolster domestic production capacity, and strengthen industrial ties between the two countries.
Ukraine’s co-production of the Octopus-100 is part of a broader push to strengthen its defense industry through international collaboration.
Earlier in 2025, Kyiv signed agreements with France’s Delair to co-develop reconnaissance drones and with Germany’s Rheinmetall to establish a joint maintenance hub for armored vehicles in Ukraine.
In 2024, Ukraine also launched a joint venture with Denmark’s Terma Group to produce radar and air defense components locally.
Additionally, ongoing collaborations with the US have supported the assembly of loitering munitions and counter-drone systems under US defense assistance programs, reinforcing Ukraine’s shift toward long-term, NATO-aligned defense production.
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