The UK and Ukraine have signed a new artificial intelligence partnership giving British researchers and technology companies access to Ukraine’s Avengers AI Labs, creating a framework for developing military capabilities based on real-world battlefield data.
The agreement was signed in Kyiv on 24 August. Defence and national security will be the initial focus, with teams from both countries expected to work together on AI solutions for military and critical-infrastructure applications.
How does Avengers AI Labs process data
Avengers AI Labs uses data collected by thousands of daylight cameras and infrared sensors deployed across Ukraine. The systems capture millions of battlefield objects, including tanks, artillery, air defence systems, infantry and aerial targets such as Shahed drones and reconnaissance UAVs.
The resulting datasets provide material for training and developing AI models based on operational conditions rather than controlled laboratory environments. Under the partnership, British innovators and researchers will gain access to these insights and the ability to integrate them into their own development programmes.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said:
“This groundbreaking partnership will bring together Ukraine’s unrivalled operational experience with Britain’s world-class AI ecosystem, giving us the opportunity to develop the technologies of the future, changing lives here in Britain and saving lives on the battlefield in Ukraine.”
He added:
“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 has already produced pilot projects involving three UK technology companies: Bristol-based Sintela, Oxford-based Mind Foundry and London-based Skyral.
One of the initial projects combines Ukrainian data with Sintela’s technology to transform buried fibre-optic cables into large-scale AI-enabled sensing systems. The first trial is being prepared for deployment at a UK defence site, where the technology will be used to detect protestors and hostile actors attempting to gather intelligence. Potential applications include airports, prisons, railways and energy infrastructure.
A second project will investigate low-power AI chips for future drones, robotics and autonomous systems. The objective is to develop computing technology capable of supporting intelligent machines that can operate for longer periods and respond rapidly in demanding environments.
The UK’s Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said:
“Ukraine is pushing the frontier of defence innovation as they bravely resist Putin’s illegal invasion. From supporting with military equipment and training to co-developing cutting-edge technology, the UK will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine for as long as it takes.”
The British government said the arrangement is intended to turn Ukraine’s operational experience and unique datasets into technologies with applications for both countries’ defence and security requirements.
Minister for AI Kanishka Narayan described the initiative as “AI sovereignty in practice”, highlighting the development of domestic capabilities from frontline experience and the wider cooperation between British and Ukrainian researchers, engineers and technology companies.