Ukraine air defence gets £100m UK Patriot pledge

The UK government said on September 8 it will commit £100 million ($135 million) to strengthen Ukraine's air defences before winter, including Patriot missiles.

The UK defence ministry said the contribution to a NATO programme supporting Kyiv will also include air defence interceptors, large-calibre artillery rounds and drones. It said the equipment would be delivered before winter to help Ukraine defend critical national infrastructure, civilians and armed forces from Russian attacks.

Ukraine relies on advanced air defence systems, especially US Patriot interceptors, to protect its skies from Russian ballistic missile strikes. Ukraine has reported a shortage of Patriot interceptors since the United States and Israel went to war with Iran in February, diverting supplies.

New UK defence minister Wes Streeting is due to co-chair his first meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, a group of 50 nations providing military equipment to Ukraine. Streeting said he and UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham had heard in Kyiv that Ukraine needed support through the winter.

Britain has been a major backer of Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. It recently agreed to release information on components for the long-range SCALP missile, the French-produced version of the UK's Storm Shadow, so Ukraine could set up local assembly lines.