Britain signs landmark deal with Poland to develop new missiles to combat Russian drones

Britain has signed a landmark deal with Poland to develop new missiles and air defence tech to destroy Russian drones.Defence Secretary Wes Streeting revealed the deal following a trip to Warsaw on Tuesday to meet his Polish counterpart, Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz.The three-year pact will see both countries working closer than ever before to bolster their militaries across sea, land, air and in cyberspace.Leaders hope the agreement will strengthen Europe’s defences and protect it from an increasingly aggressive Russia, which is seeking to sow chaos across the continent by ramping up sabotage operations targeting subsea data cables and critical infrastructure.‘Poland is one of the UK’s closest allies - from flying together in the Battle of Britain, to breaking the Enigma code [in the Second World War], they have been a vital partner for our defence for nearly a century,' Mr Streeting said.‘The new Warsaw Defence plan honours this cooperation and sets out how we will continue to work together today, building a stronger Europe in a stronger Nato.’European military leaders fear Russia is escalating its so-called ‘hybrid attacks’ against the bloc as a way of probing Nato’s defence and pressuring countries supporting Ukraine.Western intelligence officials have also separately warned Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin has an ‘appetite’ to increase his sabotage campaign across Europe, in a move sources fear could lead to a war by 2030. Wes Streeting announced a deal with Poland today to develop new missiles and air defence tech to destroy Russian drones It comes after western intelligence officials revealed Russian leader Vladimir Putin has an appetite to increase his sabotage campaign against Europe Earlier this month, the German military warned it faced ‘significant’ risk of Russian sabotage, as it raised its threat assessment to the second-highest level for the first time.In the UK, Russia is believed to have been behind the firebombing of two homes and a car belonging to former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.Moscow has also been blamed for a series of drone incursions over British military sites in 2024, with intelligence analysts claiming aircraft were launched from sanctioned Russian oil tankers to spy on nuclear weapons sites and American airbases.Russian drones have also breached the airspace of European countries. Italian fighter jets last month were scrambled to shoot down one of the Kremlin’s aircraft over Lithuania.Under the new Warsaw pact, the UK and Poland will develop advanced new counter-drone tech. It will also see the two nations boosting cooperation on cyber security to prevent Russian hacking attacks.Britain and Poland will also flex their maritime muscles more in the Baltics, with increased naval drills to deter Putin’s fleet. And they will share tips on how to build new frigates.News of the defence pact came as battle-tested Ukrainian drones were shown off in the UK for the first time on Wednesday.The secretive showcase, held at the Royal Artillery’s base in Larkhill, Wiltshire, brought together some of Kyiv’s top drone firms.It comes as Ukraine warned it was struggling to combat Russia’s latest waves of jet-powered drones, which can travel at speeds of more than 400mph making them harder to hit.‘We are reaching our technological limits,’ warned Anastasiia Mishkina, the chief executive of TechForce, which represents about 100 Ukrainian defence firms fighting to repel Putin’s invasion.She appealed to industry partners in the UK to build sophisticated jet propulsion systems for their drones and interceptors and for Ukrainian drone firms to set up factories in Britain.A Toyota Rav4 which was once owned by Sir Keir was set alight in Kentish Town in May 2025‘We need to combine the efforts, combine knowledge of our advancements, the funds, our experiences and what our companies are able to produce, at scale, together with the armed forces and make it a success story,’ she added.Military and industry figures were given live demonstrations of Ukrainian strikes and reconnaissance drones.During one display, one of the Ukrainian drones was destroyed after it unexpectedly burst into flames while performing high-speed manoeuvres.In another showcase, a pilot showed how drones could be controlled in Ukraine and the US from the safety of the UK.Louise Sander-Jones, the armed forces minister, backed the partnership, insisting that ‘Ukrainian security is British security’.‘Drones are being developed and upgraded at unprecedented speed. We cannot fail to adapt to this new challenge,’ she added.‘So, this shared security and mutual prosperity depends on those supply chains working together, collaborating seamlessly, and delivering innovation.’Earlier this month the UK opened the new Kyiv Business Centre, designed to offer British defence firms a permanent presence in Ukraine to develop new tech.