Ukraine Drops Missile Bombshell: New Deal with European Giant MBDA for Super Weapons & Latvia Gets Drones
Ukraine has signed two major defense deals—one with European missile giant MBDA to build advanced deep-strike and anti-drone weapons, and another to supply Latvia with combat-tested strike drones and ground robots.
Ukraine’s defense industry has partnered with MBDA, the European missile manufacturer known for the Storm Shadow cruise missile, to develop next-generation deep-strike and anti-drone systems [172171]. The collaboration combines Ukraine’s battlefield experience with MBDA’s engineering to target two critical threats: long-range precision strikes and the growing danger of drone attacks [172171].
Separately, Ukraine signed a bilateral defense deal with Latvia to supply the NATO ally with strike drones, ground robots, and naval systems [172168]. Under the agreement, Ukraine will provide combat-tested unmanned systems developed during its war with Russia, while Latvia will give Ukraine additional military support and technical cooperation [172168]. The deal accelerates Latvia’s adoption of modern unmanned warfare systems and deepens military integration between Kyiv and NATO members on its eastern flank [172168].
The announcements come as Ukrainian drone attacks continue to disrupt Russian logistics and infrastructure. Ukrainian strikes hit three industrial sites in Russia, including two oil refineries and a factory producing rubber for rocket fuel, with fires reported at all three plants [171302]. Russian oil production has dropped for the sixth straight month as Ukrainian drone attacks target storage and transport facilities [171305]. Ukrainian drones are also severing Russian supply lines in the south, potentially forcing Moscow to abandon the strategically important Kinburn Spit [170327].
Meanwhile, Russia has expanded its military to nearly 2.4 million personnel, the largest since the Soviet era, signaling preparation for a prolonged conflict [171654]. Ukraine’s defenses at Lyman are holding but face mounting Russian pressure, with the northern road to Kramatorsk and Sloviansk blocked [171295].