The United Kingdom and Ukraine signed a partnership agreement on August 24, 2026, in Kyiv to collaborate on artificial intelligence tools aimed at defence and security. [1, 2] UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham visited Kyiv to co-chair the 'Coalition of the Willing' meeting with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and to oversee the signing. [1, 2]
The agreement grants British researchers access to Ukraine's Avengers AI Labs, a platform built on a dataset of 5 million battlefield images collected from cameras and sensors on tanks, artillery, drones, and other military targets. [1] This data supports AI models used in automated target-detection systems, analyzing more than 100,000 drone video feeds per month and identifying about 70% of enemy targets in real time. [1]
The partnership focuses on pilot projects including AI-enabled fibre-optic sensors designed to protect military facilities and research on low-power AI chips for drones and autonomous systems. [1] British private companies, once approved by the UK Ministry of Defence, will also gain access to Ukrainian data to develop new AI security technologies. [3]
Three UK AI firms—Sintela, Mind Foundry, and Skyral—have been approved for pilot projects under the agreement. [3] Sintela recently secured a $35 million deal with the US government for surveillance technology, underpinning its role in the new UK-Ukraine collaboration. [3]
The UK will use Ukrainian battlefield data to train AI systems aimed at detecting and protecting UK defence sites, railways, and energy plants from threats posed by protesters and hostile states. [3] The agreement ensures respect for each nation’s sovereignty over its data and assets, with options to extend cooperation to allied partners by mutual consent. [2]
The British government also authorized missile manufacturer MBDA to share classified details on SCALP cruise missile components to assist Ukraine in establishing domestic assembly lines. [1]
In June, concerns about UK security were raised after Palestine Action activists breached the RAF Brize Norton base, emphasizing the need for improved defence measures such as those the partnership aims to develop. [3]
The joint declaration of intent states, "We will act as close partners in developing next-generation, AI-enabled armed forces – leveraging our engineering, industry, academic capacity and defence organisations’ expertise to accelerate the development and deployment of AI-enabled military capabilities that strengthen Ukraine’s battlefield advantage and support the development of next-generation AI-driven Armed Forces powered by rapid innovation, autonomous systems and network advantage." [2]
Further cooperation steps are expected as pilot projects with British firms advance and battlefield data use expands to protect critical infrastructure.
