George Allison
George Allison is the founder and editor of the UK Defence Journal. He holds a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and specialises in naval and cyber security topics. George has appeared on national radio and television to provide commentary on defence and security issues. Twitter: @geoallison
Officer wins Churchill Fellowship for drone defence work
Jack Venables, a police officer seconded to the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit, has been named a 2026 Churchill Fellow and will travel to Canada, Australia and beyond to research new ways of protecting critical national infrastructure from hostile drones.
Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters to replaced by drones
The Defence Investment Plan sets out an autonomous replacement for the Royal Navy's Wildcat maritime helicopters and increasingly autonomous rotorcraft flying from frigates and destroyers, as the Fleet Air Arm shifts towards uncrewed flight.
Sweeney warns of Clyde job losses without new design deal
Paul Sweeney, Labour MSP and former Clyde worker, has warned that BAE Systems needs a new design contract within around eighteen months to avoid job losses.
Dunfermline MP urges Common Combat Vessel work for Rosyth
Graeme Downie, the MP for Dunfermline and Dollar, has welcomed the commitment to a new Common Combat Vessel and pressed for it to be based on the Type 31 frigate being built in Rosyth.
Two more Type 23 Frigates being retired soon
The Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard, has confirmed that the Defence Investment Plan retires two more Type 23 frigates, part of a phased withdrawal of the ageing class running up to 2033 as new ships come into service.
Storm Shadow on way out in favour of cheaper missiles
Britain is to move away from the Storm Shadow cruise missile that has armed its jets for a quarter of a century, pivoting to a new generation of cheaper cruise missiles.
UK green lights three huge floating submarine repair docks
The UK has committed to three floating docks under Programme EUSTON, one more than previously planned, easing the out-of-water maintenance shortage behind the submarine availability crisis.
British Type 31 Frigates to get powerful anti-ship missile
The Defence Investment Plan confirms funding to bring the Type 31 frigates into service and arm them with Mk 41 launchers and Norway's Naval Strike Missile, plus new gun ammunition to defeat drones and surface threats.
Britain drops plans for Multi-Role Strike Ships
The Defence Investment Plan drops the bespoke Multi-Role Strike Ship as too complex and commits the UK to a joint amphibious fleet with the Netherlands, built around the Dutch-led Amphibious Transport Ship programme.
RAF to retire Shadow spy plane fleet to make way for drones
The RAF Shadow R1 surveillance aircraft are among older ISR platforms to be retired under the Defence Investment Plan, with the MoD planning to hand much of the role to uncrewed systems over time.
