What military equipment has the UK sent Ukraine?
The UK has provided thousands of weapons to Ukraine's armed forces since Russia's invasion in late February 2022.
Western countries began cautiously, supplying helmets and flak jackets, before eventually providing more advanced weapons, such as tanks.
Since February 2002, the UK has provided £4.6bn in military assistance to Ukraine including anti-tank missiles, artillery guns, air defence systems, armoured fighting vehicles, antistructure munitions, and three M270 long-range multiple launch rocket systems.
In 2022, the UK committed £2.3bn in military assistance and the Government said it will match, or exceed, that assistance in 2023/24.
In January 2023, the UK announced a significant uplift in combat support, including the provision of 14 Challenger 2 main battle tanks.
In May 2023, the UK gave Ukraine deep-strike Storm Shadow missiles, becoming the first country to provide Ukraine with missiles that have a range long enough to strike anywhere in the country.
The Defence Secretary confirmed the use of Storm Shadow in the same month.
With a range in excess of 250km, Storm Shadow has a greater range than other capabilities donated so far, including the US Himars system.
As part of the May assistance package, the UK also provided Ukraine with long-range attack drones.
Little is known about the long-range attack drones, except that they have a range of more than 200km.
The MOD has not provided any further detail on the attack drone, or any information about its capabilities.
The UK does not possess such capability in its own military inventory, leading to speculation that the drone will be purchased by the UK from a third country.
What has the UK sent so far?
- Deep-impact precision Storm Shadow Missiles
- Long-range attack drones
- Malloy T150 heavy lift drone for the transportation of medicine, food and ammunition supplies
- A squadron of Challenger 2 tanks with armoured recovery and repair vehicles
- A donation of AS90 guns. This will comprise a battery of eight guns at high readiness and two further batteries at varying states of readiness. This donation will not impact the existing AS90 commitment to Estonia.
- Hundreds more armoured and protected vehicles will also be sent, including Bulldog and Mastiff.
- A manoeuvre support package, including minefield breaching and bridging capabilities worth £28m
- Dozens more uncrewed aerial systems worth £20m to support Ukrainian artillery
- Another 100,000 artillery rounds on top of the 100,000 rounds already delivered.
- Hundreds more sophisticated missiles including GMLRS rockets, Starstreak air defence missiles, and medium range
- An equipment support package of spares to refurbish up to 100 Ukrainian tanks and infantry fighting vehicles
- More than 10,000 anti-tank missiles, including Javelin, Brimstone and 5,000 Nlaw (Next-generation Light Anti-tank Weapon) missiles that have so far proved devastatingly effective against Russian armour.
- A manoeuvre support package, including minefield breaching and bridging capabilities.
- Almost 200 armoured vehicles, six Stormer vehicles fitted with Starstreak launchers, along with hundreds of missiles and maritime Brimstone missiles, plus Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS).
- Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) missiles, which can shoot down cruise missiles, for use with the US National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) air defence system.
- Nearly 100,000 rounds of artillery ammunition, almost 3,000,000 rounds of small arms ammunition, 2,600 anti-structure munitions and 4.5 tonnes of plastic explosives.
The UK has also provided more than 82,000 helmets, 8,450 sets of body armour, medical supplies, and more than 5,000 night-vision devices.
25,000 sets of extreme cold weather clothing, 20,000 sleeping bags and 150 insulated tents have been provided.
More than 28 M109 155mm self-propelled guns, 36 L119 105mm artillery guns and ammunition and more than 50,000 rounds of ammunition for Ukraine's artillery.
More than 2,000 uncrewed aerial systems (including hundreds of loitering aerial munitions).
More than 200,000 pieces of non-lethal aid including more than 82,000 helmets, 8,450 sets of body armour, more than 5,000 night-vision devices, rangefinders, and medical equipment.
The UK has also sent six autonomous underwater minehunting vehicles, communications and electronic warfare equipment including GPS jammers, counter-battery radar systems, and night vision equipment.
More than 120 logistics vehicles, 1,000 additional surface-to-air missiles and 125 anti-aircraft guns have been provided.
Counter-drone capabilities have been delivered alongside the dozens of heavy lift UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) systems that have been provided to give logistical support to isolated forces and more than 120 logistics vehicles.
The MOD announced in November it was sending helicopters to Ukraine for the first time since the war began. The first of the Sea King aircraft has already arrived in the country.
This list summarises the publicly-announced aid and does not necessarily represent the totality of equipment the UK has granted in kind to Ukraine.
The UK is the largest donor of military aid to Ukraine, following the US.
Training of Ukrainian personnel
With Operation Interflex, the UK took on the responsibility of training the Ukrainian armed forces long-term, with the aim of training 30,000 new and existing Ukrainian soldiers by the end of 2023.
Alongside the UK, the Netherlands, Canada, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Lithuania, New Zealand, and Australia participate in the training programme.
Operation Interflex's aim was to train around 10,000 new and existing soldiers every 120 days at MOD locations around the UK.
The training included combat skills, basic medical training, patrol tactics, and the laws of armed conflict.
In February 2023, the Government confirmed that training would be expanded to include Ukrainian fast jet pilots and marines, with an elementary flying course for Ukrainian pilots, expected to start in summer 2023.
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