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.
Morning Daniele, opportunities, missed opportunities, lots of competition. Looks like NZ might be going with the Mogami frigate, same as Aus. Will Babcock try again? How does it compare with the T26. Indonesia being offered older Chinese naval ships, might be a chances for more licence AH140 builds for Babcock? Hope the UK industry minister is awake considering the CSG has just been through the neighbourhood up North. It’ll be interesting to see what comes out in the wash with any new procurement for the UK and its allies. 🇦🇺 🇬🇧
Ps: Bloody ripper news on Ukraine getting the Gripen. Strength to them. 🇺🇦
” 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!
There’s really nothing left to cut? Which makes you wonder where the £ is going as it’s not manpower and it’s not new orders. We’ve cut the navy, RAF and army to the bone.
I do wonder if, after shipping large amounts of stuff to Ukraine, the MOD are on the quiet being made to pay for replenishments. Which wasn’t the deal, but you wouldn’t put anything past this government.
Yes – good point
Apparently they’ve been told to cut training and weapons projects.
I’ve lost track of the number of comments I’ve posted explaining why the hollowing out will continue, and how the Government is fiddling the numbers, and I’m not the only one who has done so. Why then is anyone surprised at this?
I said in another post recently that it wouldn’t surprise me if real conventional defence spending had fallen close to 1% of GDP. Obviously we are at a mass disadvantage to our peer adversaries, and historically have leant on technology spend and constant training for our advantage. Now we are told by industry that there’s no money for the first, and service chiefs are being told by government to cut back on the latter.
This is nothing to do with indecision, tea and biscuits. It’s a systematic failure by the political classes to think beyond the next soundbite.
👍
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.
Those high day rate contractors love a project over run
Use low cost drones against them but maybe beat them by sticking ai to avoid obvious flight paths on it if you can’t beat them join them