UK MoD to invest £4.5 billion in Uncrewed Systems

The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (UK MoD) will invest £4.5 billion ($8.67 billion) over the next decade in uncrewed systems for all three services under the UK Defence Drone Strategy which was launched on 22 February.

The UK Defence Drone Strategy, born from lessons learned in Ukraine, will harness innovative capabilities across UK defence and accelerate access to uncrewed systems for the UK Armed Forces, rapidly equipping them with innovative technology across air, sea, and land. It will also enable the rapid experimentation, testing and evaluation of uncrewed platforms, unifying the approaches of the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, integrated by UK Strategic Command, while working in lockstep with industry, the UK MoD says.

“Drones are a game-changing technology that are constantly evolving, and it is crucial that the UK continues to invest in and maintain our position on the cutting edge of drone development to stay one step ahead of our adversaries,” says the announcement.

“The conflict in Ukraine has been an incubator for new ways of war and we need to learn and implement those hard-fought lessons,” said UK Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge.  “Rapidly being able to develop and upgrade uncrewed systems will be key to gaining battlefield advantage and we must seize this opportunity to grow and sustain such skills and capabilities in the UK.”

The new approach will see uncrewed systems delivered at pace into the hands of the British Armed Forces, equipping personnel with critical intelligence, reconnaissance, surveillance, strike and logistical capabilities. This will leave behind long development timelines and lengthy requirement discussions. Once operational, says the UK MoD, the systems will be able to undergo spiral development to keep pace with the rapid evolution of technology and the changing threat picture.

“This strategy, backed by significant investment, offers the opportunity to transform our approach to the acquisition, integration, and exploitation of uncrewed systems,” said Commander of UK Strategic Command, General Jim Hockenhull. “The partnership with industry will be vital to ensure we harness innovation and generate world-leading capability. Integrating advanced uncrewed systems into our suite of capabilities will protect the force, deter our adversaries and, when necessary, help us to fight and win.”

The UK’s initial priority remains the successful delivery of the Ukraine-UK uncrewed systems initiative, building on the UK’s donation of over 4,000 drones for Ukraine. The UK Defence Drone Strategy will help Armed Forces personnel meet the relentless cycle of battlefield adaptation, as has been repeatedly underpinned as Ukraine continues to successfully resist the Russian invasion.

Of the £2.5 billion ($4.81 billion) to be spent on supporting Ukraine this coming financial year, more than £200 million ($385.5 million) will go towards supplying Ukraine with uncrewed systems. The UK will include work to scale up the Drone Capability Coalition’s provision of First-Person View (FPV) drones to Ukraine. This will help to scale the UK’s domestic drone industry across manufacturing and software development whilst giving Ukraine cutting-edge, battle-tested capabilities.

The UK MoD’s procurement arm, Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) has supported the rapid procurement of large numbers of uncrewed aerial systems for Ukraine, played a key role in helping develop the new UK Defence Drone Strategy and will be pivotal in ensuring its successful ongoing delivery.

“And it is clearer than ever that unhindered access to battle-winning uncrewed systems is absolutely crucial in modern day combat,” said DE&S Chief Executive Andy Start. “A comprehensive partnership with industry is at the core of the Drone Strategy, and building on the UK’s extensive industrial, robotics and digital heritage. Through regular, clear industry engagements, we will incentivise industry to support the rapid manufacture and adaptation at a scale and capability able to deliver operational advantage for our Armed Forces.”

The Strategy builds on the UK’s history of developing and operating uncrewed systems, including the use of Reaper MQ-9s by the Royal Air Force, and small to medium uncrewed aerial systems by the Army and particularly the Royal Navy who have developed a growing array of surface and sub-surface capabilities, including autonomous minehunters, says the UK MoD.

IMAGE: UK MoD, Crown Copyright