Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the £3.5 billion defence export finance deal for Ukraine, announced on 18 July 2024, what estimate he has made of increases in the number of (a) drones and (b) other uncrewed systems available to the Ukrainian armed forces resulting from the new funding arrangements.

The UK is committed to increasing the quantity and quality of drones being provided to Ukraine, through national and international partnerships for example through the UK co-lead Drone Capability Coalition. We will deliver over 10,000 drones (both aerial and maritime) to Ukraine this financial year, with deliveries well underway. Due to rapid battlefield changes, these drones are being procured and iterated rapidly using the Ministry of Defence’s annual £3 billion of support to Ukraine, rather than the £3.5 billion defence export finance deal.