Ukrainian Drone Manufacturer Establishes Factory in the UK

According to a report by Reference News Network on February 28, the British government announced on the 26th that the Ukrainian drone manufacturer Ukrainian Special Systems has opened a new factory in the UK. This move is expected to help ensure the provision of critical equipment to the Ukrainian military.

The UK Ministry of Defence stated in a statement that the company has invested £200 million in this project. The project includes production facilities in Mildenhall and a testing base in Elmsett, both located in eastern England.

Rory Chamberlain, head of the Ukrainian Special Systems company in the UK, said: “This factory will provide something crucial: a stable supply, reliable resources, and ongoing support for Ukraine.”

It is currently unclear what types of drones the UK-based factory will produce, but the Ukrainian Special Systems company, established in 2014, is known for producing reconnaissance drones.

According to a report by Sputnik on February 25, the Ukrainian ambassador to the UK and former commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Zaluzhny, stated that Ukraine and the UK have begun joint production of drones.

Zaluzhny announced on the Telegram platform: “The first Ukrainian defense factory in the UK—the production complex of Ukrainian Special Systems—has begun operations.”

In November 2025, Kyiv and London signed a licensing agreement for the production of Ukrainian intercept drones in the UK. In early September 2025, Ukrainian Special Systems announced it would invest £200 million to produce drones in the UK.

An article published on the website of the American Atlantic Council on February 24, titled “Fiber Optic Drones Have Become Key Equipment for Russia and Ukraine,” was authored by Vlad Shuteia, head of intelligence at Pravo Venture Capital. The translation is as follows:

As the Russia-Ukraine conflict enters its fifth year, technological advancements continue to reshape the battlefield landscape. In this conflict, widely regarded as the world's first drone war, one of the most notable recent developments has been the rise of fiber optic drones.

Fiber optic drones were first deployed on a large scale in August 2024, aimed at countering Ukraine's cross-border raids into Russia's Kursk region.

In short, fiber optic drones are equipped with a cable thinner than fishing line, with one end connected to the operator, using a tangible connection rather than relying on radio signals. Because there is no radio link for electronic warfare systems to interfere with, fiber optic drones can operate in areas where traditional drones find it difficult or impossible to function. Fiber optic drones can strike targets with precision over distances of several dozen kilometers and provide clear video footage.

In Kursk, this advantage played a crucial role. During seven months of fighting, Russia's fiber optic drones made it increasingly difficult for Ukraine to maintain its military presence in the Kursk region. The Ukrainian military ultimately withdrew to the other side of the border in March 2025.

After the Battle of Kursk, this trend quickly spread. Fiber optic drones began to appear in large numbers in other regions, evolving from a specialized piece of equipment into a primary weapon. Since then, their usage has greatly expanded, with vast areas of Ukrainian farmland and forests now littered with fallen fiber optic cables from drones. Fiber optic drones have also played a significant role in a series of major battles, including the important battle that took place last year in the Pokrovsk region of eastern Ukraine.

By mid-2025, as Ukraine began to replicate and improve fiber optic drone technology, Russia no longer held a unilateral advantage in this field. Thanks to Ukraine's innovative defense technology startup ecosystem, domestic production has rapidly increased. In just a few months, over 80 sets of Ukrainian-designed fiber optic systems were approved for use, while the number of Ukrainian companies involved in the production or integration of such drones also grew rapidly.

Currently, there are no effective means to eliminate the threat posed by these interference-resistant drones. Countermeasures vary widely, from shotgun fire and physical barriers as a last resort to radar nets, acoustic sensors, and experimental AI-assisted detection systems.

Ukraine's experience shows that relying entirely on radio-controlled drones and electronic warfare can lead to catastrophic chaos for the military at critical moments.

Fiber optic drones may not replace traditional systems, but they have become an indispensable part of the modern battlefield toolbox. (Translation/ Li Sha Hong Man)