UK, Ukraine agree to joint artillery production under new LYRA defense pact

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal reported the information.

The document, signed on the sidelines of the DFNC3 International Defence Industry Forum, envisages creation of a special working group to coordinate joint projects and scale up the development, modernization and production of weapons systems.

“The goal of LYRA is to strengthen the defense capabilities of both countries by combining Ukrainian and British defense-industrial and scientific potential,” Shmyhal said in a social media post announcing the pact.

Officials said the agreement is intended to speed up transfer of technology and increase industrial capacity to meet battlefield needs. A separate project agreement on artillery production was signed as part of the package, they added.

• The move follows earlier UK-Ukraine cooperation on unmanned aerial systems this year. 
• In July, Ukrainian drone maker Skyeton announced a joint venture with Britain’s Prevail Partners to manufacture and supply Skyeton’s Raybird drone in the UK.