MOD signs off on IFU delivery of more than £90m of air defence equipment for Ukraine
Three new contacts have been signed that will see more than £90m of air defence drones delivered to Ukraine.
Signed by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) on behalf of the International Fund for Ukraine (IFU), this will include a £56m counter-uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) contract with Norwegian defence company Kongsberg and two further contracts to provide further air defence capabilities.
The contract with the Norwegian firm will purchase vehicle-mounted counter-drone systems to detect, track, destroy or disrupt UAS.
The CORTEX Typhon system is operated by just two personnel and can be quickly deployed and repositioned to maximise its effectiveness.
It is capable of operating on its own or part of a network and uses sensors, cameras, radars and electronic surveillance equipment to physically destroy or disrupt drones.
It will also see the Tekever AR3 system delivered, which is an uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) designed to support both maritime and land-based missions.
It is capable of carrying out surveillance across a wide area, as well as providing border protection, maritime surveillance, communications relaying, and artillery correction.
The third system is the Nordic Wing Astero, used on the frontline to provide situational awareness, communications and target acquisition – it can also carry electronic warfare payloads.
It uses electronic systems to protect it from enemy capabilities, weighs 4.5kg, has a range of 135km and can fly for three-and-a-half hours on a single charge.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the systems will "either protect Ukraine's civilian population and infrastructure, or be put to use on the frontline".
"The International Fund for Ukraine highlights the unity and resolve of our Allies to work together to provide Ukraine with cutting-edge equipment to meet its capability requirements," Mr Wallace added.
Awarded by the MOD's procurement arm, Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), the contracts are part of the packages announced by IFU defence ministers earlier this year.
The IFU uses financial contributions from international partners to procure priority military assistance for Ukraine, ensuring the country is supported with lethal and non-lethal aid in 2023 and beyond.
It comes as new aerial reconnaissance drones have arrived in Ukraine, designed to carry out land and sea-based missions.
Ukraine's military is already training on the systems, which will form a package of more than 100 drones.
In total, more than £770m has been raised by the IFU, with contributions from the UK, Norway, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland and Lithuania.
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