DSEI UK 2025 will shine a spotlight on technological innovation as the Ministry of Defence intensifies its drive to adopt advanced capabilities from outside the traditional defence sector.
The updated Tech Zone, set to host more than 100 exhibitors, will serve as the focal point for this shift when the event opens at London’s ExCel Centre from 9 to 12 September. I’ll be attending to take a closer look.
The push comes as the MOD’s 2025 Strategic Defence Review sets out a future force vision rooted in digital, autonomous and space-based technologies. Recognising the speed at which adversaries adapt, the MOD has said the UK must modernise “at the speed of relevance” to keep pace with threats in a rapidly evolving environment.
This year’s Tech Zone will feature companies such as Amazon Web Services, Garmin Europe and Capgemini. AWS is expected to showcase its work in cloud infrastructure, edge computing and satellite-enabled command and control. Garmin will present flight navigation tools and ruggedised wearables, while Capgemini brings expertise in digital transformation and big data.
The zone will also host UK Strategic Command, MOD Science & Innovation, and Defence Equipment and Support. General Jim Hockenhull, Commander of Strategic Command, said in a recent interview that “much of the groundbreaking work is being done outside of defence organisations and DSEI UK allows us to have that partnership with industry to find new ways of doing things.”
Defence has long been a driver of innovation, but the pace of civilian technological development now exceeds that of many defence programmes. The conflict in Ukraine has further underscored the value of cheap, expendable autonomous systems in contested environments.
Reflecting this trend, DSEI UK organisers have expanded the Tech Zone to accommodate rising demand. Exhibitors range from startups to established firms working on artificial intelligence, autonomy, cloud computing, advanced analytics and quantum technologies.
Grant Burgham, Director of DSEI UK, said the event would showcase a broader ecosystem of innovation. “In recent months there has been a spotlight on the urgent requirement to keep pace with the rapid technological change that’s reshaping the defence sector,” he said. “We’re seeing that momentum firsthand, with a wave of technology companies exhibiting, many from outside the traditional defence sector.”
With Britain seeking to futureproof its armed forces, this year’s Tech Zone promises insight into how emerging civilian technologies are being adapted to perhaps do just that.
