The United Kingdom and Ukraine have partnered on the OCTOPUS project to mass-produce interceptor drones, which will serve as the foundation of a “drone wall” in Europe, aimed at countering Russian incursions into NATO airspace.
According to UK Defense Secretary John Healey, the drones have already proven effective against Iranian Shahed kamikazes and cost less than a tenth of similar foreign models.
The latest systems are expected to be deployed at allied countries’ borders, and in the future, they could integrate missile defense, protecting military facilities and critical infrastructure in the UK.
In addition to OCTOPUS, the UK is investing in other joint projects with Ukraine, such as COOKSON, which aims to create a universal maritime drone. The initiative envisions a compact, high-speed vessel equipped with modular weaponry, capable of operating in adverse conditions. The drone will be reusable, resistant to electronic warfare, and capable of attacking even without communication with the operator, carrying at least two weapons for maximum effectiveness.
The country also announced industrial expansion, with Ukrainian manufacturer Ukrspecsystems investing $268 million to build a new factory in Mildenhall. The UK is establishing itself as a European leader in unmanned systems, strengthening technological cooperation with Ukraine and increasing the production capacity of drones capable of air interception, maritime attack, and defense against threats such as helicopters and other drones.
Source: Militarnyi | Photo: X @front_ukrainian | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
❗️🇺🇦 Ukrainian interceptor-drones, which will be manufactured in the 🇬🇧UK as part of the OCTOPUS project, will become the basis of a European “drone wall” to counter 🇷🇺Russian drones – UK Defense Minister John Healy pic.twitter.com/CbyR7Hqf5y
— 🪖MilitaryNewsUA🇺🇦 (@front_ukrainian) September 28, 2025
