A landmark artificial intelligence (AI) deal has been signed today between the UK and Ukraine, aiming to develop new military capabilities and future technology. The agreement, signed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Andy Burnham in Kyiv, will grant the UK access to Ukraine’s Avengers AI Labs.
The partnership will see the UK become the first international partner to access the Avengers AI Labs, which provide real-world data and insights collected from battlefield sensors and cameras in Ukraine. This data, which includes millions of objects such as tanks, artillery, and drones, will be used to train new AI models.
In return, the UK will support Ukraine with its universities, researchers, technology companies, and its AI ecosystem. The collaboration will initially focus on defence and national security, bringing together engineers, academics, businesses, and military operational expertise from both nations to address key security challenges.
Several pilot projects have already been launched as part of the agreement, involving British startups including Sintela, Mind Foundry, and Skyral. One trial technology, which uses Ukrainian data and UK technology to turn buried fibre-optic cables into an AI-enabled sensor, is being rolled out at a UK defence site to protect against protestors and hostile actors.
Another project will explore the development of next-generation low-power AI chips for future drones, robotics, and autonomous systems. This deal forms a key part of the broader UK and Ukraine’s 100 Year Partnership and follows a recent announcement by Prime Minister Burnham regarding the release of classified information on UK components for SCALP long-range missiles to establish local assembly lines in Ukraine.