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UK and Ukraine Agree to Jointly Produce Thousands of Octopus-100 Interceptor Combat Drones

On 25 October 2025, Ukraine and the United Kingdom confirmed a new phase of cooperation with an agreement between the two countries’ ministries of defense to jointly produce thousands of Octopus-100 interceptor drones, as announced by Rustem Umerov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, with manufacturing to take place in the UK under the “Build with Ukraine” program. Signed in London, the accords elevate an already close defense relationship into co-manufacturing on NATO soil and would make the Octopus-100 the first Ukrainian combat drone to be serially produced in a NATO country, signaling a shift from ad hoc procurement to a structured industrial partnership. For Kyiv, the arrangement promises faster fielding and sustained replenishment; for London, it embeds the UK as a production hub for systems destined for Ukrainian defense and evaluation. The announcement follows recent high-level attention on the platform after President Volodymyr Zelensky showcased the Octopus interceptor to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, underscoring the program’s political and operational relevance.  Read Full Defense news at this link.


The Octopus-100 is presented as an interceptor-class drone, a category conceived to counter hostile unmanned threats and protect critical assets (Picture Source: Office of the President of Ukraine)




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