A major new drone manufacturing facility has opened in Suffolk, marking a significant boost both for the UK economy and for Ukraine’s Armed Forces as they
continue to resist Russia’s invasion.
One of Ukraine’s largest drone producers, 'Ukrspecsystems', has launched a new production and testing hub in East Anglia, aimed at supplying cutting-edge unmanned aircraft to support Ukraine’s battlefield operations. The investment, worth around £200 million, is expected to create up to 500 jobs across the region and throughout the wider UK supply chain.
The factory and associated testing and training facilities are located in Mildenhall and Elmsett, following a decision by the company to expand production beyond Ukraine as the war enters its fourth year. The UK government has previously ordered more than 80 SHARK and Mini-SHARK drones from Ukrspecsystems, systems credited with helping Ukrainian forces identify and counter Russian targets.
Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard MP said: “Our resolve to support Ukraine is stronger than ever, and we are backing Ukraine’s defiant Armed Forces as they fight for peace.
Ukrspecsystems’ new factory is a vote of confidence in UK support and underlines the deepening cooperation between our nations’ defence industries. This investment will create up to 500 new jobs in the East of England, drive defence as an engine for growth, and help Ukraine defend itself against Putin’s aggression”.
The new facility comes alongside more than £1 billion committed by the UK since July 2024 to bolster Ukraine’s air defences, funding designed to counter Russian drone and missile attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure.
Founded in 2014, Ukrspecsystems produces a range of advanced drones, including the PD-2 and SHARK-M surveillance platforms. These systems are capable of autonomous coordination with strike drones, allowing Ukrainian forces to locate, track and neutralise Russian equipment. The company estimates its technology has inflicted nearly $3 billion in damage on **Russia**’s military since the full-scale invasion began.
Separately, the UK has begun domestic production of Octopus interceptor drones, designed to destroy Russian Shahed drones at a fraction of the cost. The programme forms part of the Ministry of Defence’s £4.5 billion military support package for Ukraine.
The Suffolk factory is being presented by ministers as a practical example of the UK–Ukraine 100-Year Partnership, aimed at deepening cooperation between the two countries’ defence industries. It follows the recent launch of a new business centre in Kyiv, intended to help British defence firms and innovators accelerate their support for Ukraine’s Armed Forces.
Together, officials say, these initiatives signal not only continued military backing for Ukraine, but a long-term industrial relationship designed to strengthen security on both sides. Photo by Ministerio de Defensa del Perú from Perú, Perú, Wikimedia commons.