The Ministry of Defence has confirmed it is assessing the growing threat posed by low cost drone swarms to both military and civilian infrastructure, following questions about how the UK plans to counter the rapid proliferation of small, inexpensive unmanned systems.
Responding to a written question from Suella Braverman MP, Defence Minister for Veterans Al Carns said the department is “aware of the threat posed by low cost drones to military and civilian infrastructure” and is working with the Home Office as part of a coordinated national approach to counter drone operations.
He added that the MOD’s work forms part of wider efforts to improve homeland air defence and critical infrastructure protection across the UK.
The Strategic Defence Review announced a £1 billion investment to strengthen Britain’s integrated air and missile defence architecture. Carns confirmed this funding will be “prioritised appropriately as part of the future Integrated Force,” which is intended to provide a unified framework for defending against both state and non state aerial threats.
The MOD has not disclosed details of specific systems under development, but officials have previously suggested that lessons drawn from Ukraine, where massed low cost drones have proved highly disruptive to conventional defences, are informing British policy.
The forthcoming Defence Investment Plan, expected later this year, is likely to set out more detailed proposals for layered air defence and for counter drone technology integration across the armed forces and domestic agencies.
Any further news on the Dragonfire? Even here in this week on the news the company EOS had sold a “Worlds First” (apparently) Australian developed DEW system to the Netherlands and some of their vehicle mounted RWS anti-drone Systems to Ukraine. I’m quite surprised at this claim considering US, Israeli and other countries have their DEW technology. But credit where its due.
Is the UK looking at Skyranger 30 Boxer, Terrahawk 30mm or Tridon 40mm systems in the mix?
I’m sure its is looking. It has been looking for some time, but procurement currently seems to be in a state of almost total paralysis.
” integrated air and missile defence infrastructure…..”
Yeah, right. I expect that the first order of the assessment was the quantity of tea and biscuits.
Reports in today’s press suggest that the MOD is facing cuts, yes cuts, due to current year overspend. On what??!! So much for 3.5%/5.5%.
So what goes first, the integrated air and missile defence infrastructure or the tea and biscuits.
Answers on a postcard.
Saw it myself. Government have told service chiefs to cut £2 billion plus from next years budget. Good news again!
Cheap drone swarms are not restricted to sovereign or non-sovereign states. These weapons would be very useful to terrorist groupes too! This is encouraging news that at least the aurthorities are looking at the risks to both military and civilian targets. Sadly, I fear the drone will be the weapon of choice for those wishing us harm in the future as they are remote systems, thus less likely to be so risky to deploy.
Scenario, peed off terror group sail a merchant vessel loaded with this stuff into British waters. Launch. Bye bye major infrastructure targets. There is no defence unless there is investment in said defence. Can anyone honestly believe politicians will rubber stamp the necessary funding?
Sadly not, they will keep prevaricating until something actually happens, then blame it on someone else! Things only seem to happen when they are close to elections or they get a week or two of constant harassment from the press.
Get in there. Another assessment. That’ll keep another group of high earners busy for at least a decade.