UK to send drone killer platforms to Ukraine under $120 million military package

Europe, News October 19, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

The United Kingdom plans to help Ukraine reinforce its air defense against Russian drones. The British Ministry of Defense is sending Terrahawk Paladin “drone killer” platforms to Ukraine, a semi-autonomous air defense system capable of tracking and destroying drones.

The UK has announced a $120 million military package for Ukraine. According to the country’s Defense Ministry, the military aid package would provide equipment to the Ukrainian armed forces to clear minefields, maintain its vehicles, and shore up defensive fortifications to protect critical national infrastructure.

A statement released by the British Secretary of Defense Grant Shapps said that the support package would be provided using money from the International Fund for Ukraine (IFU). The UK and Denmark launched the IFU in 2022 and the UK engages closely with Ukraine to procure capability that best meets the needs of its armed forces. Since the inception of IFU, five other European nations, Norway, Netherlands, Sweden, Iceland, and Lithuania, have contributed to the fund.

“During my recent visit to Kyiv, I assured President Zelenskyy that the UK’s support for Ukraine and its most urgent needs is unwavering,” Shapps said. “Today I am proud to announce that the UK, alongside our allies, is delivering on that promise with new contracts to provide Ukraine with critical air defense systems to protect civilians from Putin’s barbaric bombing campaign,” he added.

Terrahawk Paladin

The most important feature of the latest military aid package is the provision of Terrahawk Paladin, an aerial defense system specifically designed for loitering munition drones. Produced by the UK-based MSI-Defence Systems, Terrahawk Paladin has emerged as a potentially potent response to the Iranian-made drones that pose a significant threat to Ukraine.

The innovative aerial defense system is equipped with an automatic gun, a digital fire control system, and an all-weather radar. The platform is operated by a crew of two, one to analyze the target using radar systems data and another to strike them.

According to MSI, the system is modular, remote-controlled, and re-deployable, which makes it ideal to be mobilized quickly. The containerized system is mounted on a NATO-standard Demountable Rack Offload and Pickup System and can be deployed on the ground with offset remote control for operator survivability.

Air targets are engaged using the 30mm MK44 Bushmaster II autocannon equipped with proximity fuse ammunition. The system boasts an interception range of up to 2 kilometers featuring programmable air-burst ammunition.

So far, London has not disclosed the number of air defense systems that it plans to send. Terrahawk Paladin systems and other military equipment announced in the latest military package are expected to arrive in Ukraine by this month.

Support for Ukraine amid Israel-Palestine conflict

UK’s latest military aid package for Ukraine was announced only a few days after the severe security crisis in Israel. Several Western leaders, including the British leadership, have diverted their focus on the evolving situation in the Middle East.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was among the world leaders who traveled to Tel Aviv this week to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and to show his support for Israel. Sunak drew parallels between the ongoing war in Ukraine and the emerging security crisis in Israel as he compared Hamas, the Gaza-based militant group, with the Russian administration stating, “We don’t accept what comes out of the Kremlin as truth, we should not with Hamas”.