The government on Monday endorsed an independently-produced Strategic Defence Review, which calls for a more lethal, tech-driven army to counter emerging threats, including possible Russian aggression.

Britain, one of Ukraine’s staunchest Western supporters, plans to learn from Kyiv’s more than three-year fight against Russian invasion, during which drones have transformed the battlefield.

The £350 million (US$473 million) drone package is part of a broader £4.5 billion military support initiative for Ukraine, the government said.

Defence secretary John Healey will make the announcement at a 50-nation Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting in Brussels, co-hosted with Germany.

“The UK is stepping up its support for Ukraine by delivering hundreds of thousands more drones this year and completing a major milestone in the delivery of critical artillery ammunition,” Healey said in a statement ahead of the meeting.

In addition to the drone deliveries, Britain said it has completed the shipment of 140,000 artillery shells to Ukraine since January and will spend a further £247 million this year training Ukrainian troops.