The UK and Ukraine have signed a major agreement to collaborate on AI, with the focus on developing enhanced military capabilities and new technology solutions.
The pact was signed by UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Ukraine on 24 August 2026.
This agreement gives British researchers access to Ukraine’s Avengers AI Labs database, a repository of battlefield data collected by thousands of cameras and sensors deployed across active combat zones.
Ukrainian sensors and cameras contribute millions of real-world observations, from tanks and artillery to aerial drones and reconnaissance units, feeding data into Avengers AI Labs.
The information is used to train new AI models designed to improve operational awareness and decision-making.
According to the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), the partnership establishes a joint “AI cell” comprising engineers, academics, military specialists, and businesses from both countries.
The group will prioritise solutions to defence and security threats and explore potential for broader applications in fields such as transportation and critical infrastructure.
As part of the agreement, several pilot initiatives have begun. Three British startups namely Sintela, Mind Foundry, and Skyral are involved in initial trials.
The first of these projects is set to deploy technology at a UK defence site, aiming to bolster protection against unauthorised access and intelligence-gathering attempts.
This system, developed using Ukrainian battlefield data, turns underground fibre-optic cables into large-scale AI-enabled sensors.
Officials indicated the technology could be adapted to secure infrastructures such as airports, prisons, railways, and power plants, the MoD stated.
A second joint effort involves the development of next-generation, low-power AI chips intended for use in drones, robotics, and autonomous platforms.
Should the project succeed, these chips may support a new generation of uncrewed systems capable of extended, reliable operation in challenging environments.
Prime Minister Burnham said: “By combining Ukrainian battlefield data with British expertise, we will accelerate the development of capabilities that not only strengthen our national security but better protect our critical infrastructure and growth in every postcode here at home.”
The agreement also forms part of the “100 Year Partnership” between the UK and Ukraine, aimed at reinforcing long-term cooperation on global security and countering Russian military aggression.
In addition to the AI agreement, the UK government has reportedly agreed to transfer classified information on components for the Storm Shadow missile, also known as SCALP in France.
This decision could enable Ukraine to establish assembly lines for the long-range cruise missile domestically.
Jointly developed by the UK and France, the Storm Shadow/SCALP is designed for precision strikes against high-value fixed or fortified targets, including hardened bunkers and critical infrastructure.
The missile can be deployed from a range of platforms such as the Eurofighter Typhoon, Rafale, Mirage 2000, and Tornado, and has an operational range exceeding 250km.
