The UK plans to retrofit equipment donated to Ukraine by other countries with British military technology, seeking to adapt existing weapons to battlefield needs as Russia steps up drone and missile attacks.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham discussed the plan with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during their October 14 meeting at Downing Street.
London did not identify the equipment to be upgraded or specify which sensors, guidance systems, or electronic warfare capabilities it would add.
The latest plan adds to Britain’s broader effort to help Ukraine maintain and adapt the weapons it receives from allies. Retrofitting donated equipment could give Ukrainian forces additional capabilities without requiring every replacement system to be newly built.
How Ukraine Adapts Donated, Older Weapons
Ukraine has relied on equipment from multiple countries since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Keeping those systems operational has required repairs, spare parts, and modifications to older platforms, alongside deliveries of newer weapons.
One example is the US-funded effort to maintain and upgrade Ukraine’s MIM-23 HAWK air defense systems.
In April 2024, the US approved a $138-million foreign military sale covering equipment and services to refurbish HAWK fire units, recertify missiles, and improve communications integration. The system was first developed during the Cold War and has since undergone multiple upgrades.
Kyiv has also received international support to repair equipment already in service.
In March, the UK disclosed that maintenance facilities operating inside Ukraine were repairing donated vehicles and weapons, including British-supplied CVR-T armored vehicles, Husky support vehicles, L119 light guns, and AS-90 artillery systems. The facilities also support Swedish-donated Archer artillery systems through cooperation with Swedish partners.
