UK Rejects Proposal to Send Decommissioned Warrior IFVs to Ukraine

The UK Ministry of Defence has rejected a proposal to transfer surplus Warrior infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine, citing concerns over cost, suitability, and the added burden on Ukraine’s logistics and training systems.

The decision was reported by the UK Defence Journal.

“Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV) are key platforms for the British Army to meet Defence Commitments. Although small numbers are scheduled for disposal, these will have been selected in line with serviceability and suitability for role. As such, without substantial investment, they are not likely to offer significant capability to Ukraine and providing such small numbers would only increase the diversity of Ukraine’s armoured vehicle fleet – increasing their logistic and training burdens,” said Defence Minister Luke Pollard in a written response to MP David Taylor.

The response follows a public petition calling for the transfer of retired Warrior vehicles to Ukraine. The petition garnered more than 14,000 signatures, prompting an official reply from the government.

The petition argues that Warrior IFVs, due to be retired by 2030, “could be sent to strengthen Ukraine’s defences at no additional cost to the taxpayer,” and claims that infantry fighting vehicles “have proven to be an extremely effective tool on the battlefields of Ukraine.”

The petition will be considered for parliamentary debate if it reaches 100,000 signatures by 4 October 2025. As of 23 June, it had collected just over 18,000.

It remains unclear whether the Ministry of Defence is ruling out the transfer of all Warrior vehicles or only those scheduled for disposal in 2025.

As of 2024, the British Army operated 632 Warrior vehicles in multiple variants, including infantry fighting, command, artillery reconnaissance, repair and recovery, and fire control.

As of 2025, 359 Warriors remain in service. The formal retirement process is expected to begin in 2027, with full decommissioning scheduled by 2030.

An additional 80 vehicles, deemed to be in the poorest condition, are slated for disposal in 2025. However, before scrapping, they will be used as sources for spare parts to support the remaining fleet.

Developed in the 1980s and produced through the 1990s, Warrior combat vehicles are equipped with a 30 mm unstabilized cannon, with a maximum rate of fire of 80 rounds per minute and a range of up to 1,500 meters.

They offer frontal protection against 25 mm armor-piercing rounds and 14.5 mm rounds around the perimeter. Optional add-on armor kits are available. The vehicles are also equipped with thermal imaging and other battlefield systems.