A strategic partnership between the United Kingdom and Kyiv was sealed with a large-scale defense support agreement, which was officially signed on July 10, 2025, in Rome. During the Fourth Conference for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner signed the largest defense agreement in the history of the two countries.
The financial structure of the deal provides for a special credit mechanism with a 19-year repayment period, which is secured by the British export credit agency. The total value of the contract amounts to 3.4 billion US dollars, with the main package including more than 5,000 anti-aircraft missiles.
Production will be carried out by the British division of the French company Thales at their factory in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The economic effect of the agreement is expected to be significant - with the creation of 200 new jobs and the preservation of 700 existing positions in the defense sector.
The delivered missile systems include several key types. The main part consists of 70-mm FZ275 LGR rockets with a semi-active laser guidance system and a maximum range of up to 3,000 meters. They are fully compatible with the Vampire anti-aircraft complexes that the Ukrainian army uses to neutralize drones and aerial targets.
Additionally, the package includes light multi-purpose missiles (LMM) with an operational range of over 6 kilometers. Their versatility allows for effective engagement of both aerial and ground targets in close proximity.
This unprecedented agreement demonstrates the continuing military and technical support of the United Kingdom for Ukraine in the context of current geopolitical challenges.