Octopus-100 Interceptor Drones Enter UK Production Under Build with Ukraine

On 25 October 2025, Ukraine and the United Kingdom marked a significant step forward in their defence partnership by signing an agreement to jointly produce Octopus‑100 interceptor drones. Announced by Rustem Umerov, Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, the accord formalizes co‑manufacturing under the UK’s “Build with Ukraine” initiative, with production taking place on British soil. This move makes the Octopus‑100 the first Ukrainian combat drone to be serially produced in a NATO country, symbolizing a shift from ad hoc battlefield procurement to a structured industrial partnership.

The Octopus‑100 was initially developed in Ukraine by domestic defence firms, including Ukrspecsystems, as a response to waves of Russian loitering munitions. These drones were rapidly fielded in combat, designed specifically to intercept small strike and reconnaissance UAVs. With the UK’s involvement, the platform is transitioning from a battlefield improvisation to a formally industrialized programme, allowing for faster production, replenishment, and testing within NATO infrastructure. The political importance of the program was highlighted when President Volodymyr Zelensky showcased the Octopus‑100 to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer earlier this year, emphasizing both operational relevance and high-level support for the initiative.

While full specifications have not been officially released, reported performance figures suggest that the Octopus‑100 is a short-to-medium range interceptor capable of speeds around 400–450 km/h. It has an operational radius of approximately 150–200 km and carries a modular payload of 2.5–9 kg, enabling the use of electro-optical, infrared, or radar seekers, or small kinetic payloads. Previous battlefield versions were produced at very low unit costs, but UK-manufactured variants are expected to be more sophisticated and aligned with NATO quality standards.

The production timeline anticipates an initial pilot batch of up to 1,000 drones in the UK, followed by scaling to thousands per month once factories, assembly lines, and testing facilities are fully operational. UK-based production hubs, reportedly including sites in East Anglia, will manage assembly, quality assurance, and training. Ukrainian engineers will work alongside British counterparts, transferring IP and technical expertise while retaining control over critical components.

Strategically, this partnership strengthens Kyiv’s air-defence capabilities, allowing sustained replenishment against low-cost swarm threats. For the UK and NATO, it embeds industrial capacity for a combat-proven asymmetric system, creating a platform that can be upgraded and exported for allied use. The Octopus‑100’s serial production on NATO soil reflects the deepening of the UK–Ukraine defence relationship and signals a new era of structured collaboration between the two countries’ military industries.

This agreement marks a turning point in drone warfare collaboration, moving Ukrainian battlefield innovation into a formal, industrialised environment, ensuring rapid replenishment, technological integration, and NATO-aligned standards for years to come.