UK announces new air defence package for Ukraine

The UK has announced a half a billion pound package of air defence for Ukraine.

The funding includes £150 million for NATO PURL, and additional 1,000 UK-manufactured missiles.

The PURL initiative sees NATO coordinating the purchase of world-class defence equipment from the United States for the defence of Ukraine. 

The UK will also deliver an additional 1,000 Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMMs), manufactured in Belfast.

Over the coming months, the UK will also deliver an additional 1,200 air defence missiles and 200,000 rounds of artillery ammunition for Ukraine’s defenders through the Air Defence Consortium (ADC). 

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: "As we approach the fifth year of Putin’s full scale invasion, the UK and our allies are more committed than ever to supporting Ukraine.

"I’m proud of the UK’s continued leadership and pleased to confirm a new half a billion pound package of air defence, including £150 million for PURL, to help Ukrainians defend against Putin’s relentless drone and missile attacks."