UK arms firms in £90m Ukraine order

BRITISH defence firms are scrambling to supply Ukrainian forces with equipment as they battle Russian troops.

The Mail on Sunday can reveal that officials have drawn up a list of vital military kit, which has been distributed to more than 1,500 UK suppliers in recent days.

Companies have been asked for body armour, helmets, military-grade medical kits, night vision goggles and 24-hour ration packs. It is understood a fund estimated to be as large as £90million has been set aside by the Ministry of Defence to pay for the equipment.

Suppliers have been asked to deliver the gear to a warehouse organised by the Ukrainian embassy in Poland. Separate deals for specialist equipment are likely to be negotiated directly with large MoD suppliers.

Andrew Kinniburgh, director general at trade body Make UK Defence, said: ‘British manufacturers are lining up to see what they can do to help. The industry is not looking to profit from this crisis, just get the kit out there at regular rates.’

Contractors large and small are expected to step in. Industry sources tipped Avon Protection, which makes respirators, ballistic helmets and thermal imaging technology, and engineer Smiths Group, a provider of chemical agent detectors, as likely suppliers.