The Ministry of Defence has confirmed ongoing investment in British-made counter-drone technologies and outlined plans for deeper post-conflict industrial collaboration with Ukraine.
Defence Minister Al Carns said the government is supporting the development of “advanced Counter-Uncrewed Aerial System (C-UAS) capabilities from UK manufacturers” that are being adapted to meet evolving threats.
He added that the Ministry of Defence works closely with the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA), the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), and industry partners to conduct regular capability challenges designed to accelerate innovation in drone defence.
“These challenges promote the development of C-UAS systems by British companies,” Carns stated, highlighting recent investment in directed energy weapons, with development teams led by UK consortiums. The new systems are designed for use across multiple operational scenarios, including the protection of critical national infrastructure.
In a separate response, Defence Minister Luke Pollard outlined the UK’s strategy for long-term industrial cooperation with Ukraine’s defence sector, which he described as “a recognised world leader in innovation and technology adoption.” He said that since Russia’s full-scale invasion, the UK has worked closely with Ukraine to deliver frontline capabilities while strengthening industrial partnerships.
Pollard noted that the UK government has led six trade missions into Ukraine, designed to “build defence industrial relationships for the near term and for enduring, post-conflict industrial collaboration.”
He added that the bilateral agreement on battlefield technology, signed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in June, will “deepen collaboration through sharing of data and expertise between the UK and Ukraine, paving the way for our two countries to work long term on jointly agreed priorities.”
At what level would this be?
We have home-grown anti-drone drones , some bigger anti-loitering munitions and missiles (Cambridge Aerospace) and then CAMM.
The MoD is spoiled for choice, which never bodes well for rapid decision-making.
Spoiled for choice, committed to buying nothing, just hollow announcements.
Wake me up when you’ve actually bought something for our forces, instead of hollow announcements.
The headline, to me at least, implied they were looking at home grown Drone defences. Alas not.
Our capability seems to consist primarily on 2 CUAS Wing, RAF Regiment, operating Orcus and LMM SAMs using a system called Rapid Sentry.
Miniscule.
The Army has several CUAS programs on the go too, unsure if any kit has been delivered beyond the CUAS sights? These are for the Field Army, in the field.
The question must be asked what HMG are doing to counter a possible Drone/ship, Drone Lorry scenario like what’s happened in Ukraine.
Beyond relying on the Intelligence community to thwart such actions, I suggest, zilch.
If it turned to trench warfare we could pile all the press releases up and form an impenetrable barrier?
The problem with relying on EW and DE is that it won’t always work. EW can be thwarted by hardening. So kinetic effectors are needed.
Sadly I suspect the MoD will massively overcomplicate things and spend hundreds of millions more than they need to.
We really don’t need to reinvent the wheel with this; take knowledge from Ukraine to create EW weapons to knock out drones, then use Skyranger or similar 30-40mm weapons, either on Boxers or even stationary if protecting fixed sites like airfields/airports, power stations etc, and finally missiles e.g. Sky Sabre for larger drones, missiles or incoming enemy aircraft.
Ahh, but that would mean less money sent to the MIC, which, cynically speaking, is HMG main interest regards the Defence budget.
I agree. OTS, Skyranger, or plenty of other examples. Use static at key points or mobile on a Foxhound, whatever.
Just do something, rather than talk and do effectively nothing.