The Ministry of Defence has revealed that it has spent approximately £35 million on the procurement of over 30,000 First Person View (FPV) drones since July 2024, in support of military operations, particularly related to the conflict in Ukraine.
The information was disclosed in response to a series of parliamentary questions posed by Ben Obese-Jecty, Conservative MP for Huntingdon, regarding the procurement and development of FPV drones.
Maria Eagle, the Minister of State for Defence, stated:
“Uncrewed systems are changing the character of warfare at pace, and this Government is adapting our approaches to acquisition, regulation and operation. In support of the conflict in Ukraine the Ministry of Defence has procured over 30,000 First Person View Drones spending circa £35 million and utilised the lessons to inform the Department’s approach to FPV Drone capabilities.”
The procurement of FPV drones reflects the MOD’s ongoing focus on enhancing uncrewed capabilities, drawing lessons from Ukraine to develop future drone strategies.
The MOD has also been exploring the potential acquisition of larger and more advanced uncrewed systems. When asked whether the Royal Navy plans to procure systems such as the MQ-28 Ghost Bat or Gambit 5 UCAV, Maria Eagle responded:
“The Royal Navy is exploring how Fixed Wing Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (FW ACPs) could augment F35B Lightning embarked in Queen Elizabeth Class (QEC) carriers to provide additional strike capability. There are a number of emerging solutions for this capability and the Royal Navy will work collaboratively with the Royal Air Force to evaluate these solutions.”
The MOD’s approach to uncrewed systems is informed by the evolving nature of warfare and technological advancements. The focus remains on interoperability and coordination between various drone systems procured by the department. Highlighting this, Eagle noted:
“The pace of military and civilian uncrewed technology evolution means our traditional approaches to acquisition, regulation and operation need to adapt. Learning lessons from the conflict in Ukraine to optimise capabilities, programmes like the RAF StormShroud is evidence of this.”
Has the MOD just given up on the SDR and now just drip feeds these crummy little contracts?
It is odd it’s still not out.
I suspect that the uplift in service numbers and equipment that Lord Robertson’s team see as necessary is miles beyond anything we can afford or achieve on a nominal, supposed 2.5% of GDP.
It is further complicated by Starmer wishing to include ‘security’, meaning the intelligence services in toto, In the defence budget. And also by the leading NATO member now demanding.that we all spend 5% of GDP on defence.
Not sure what Lord Robertson is expected to do or can do about this enormous gap between what we need and what we can currently afford.
What he probably should do is set out broadly where we need to be in 10 years time, so by 2035, noting that it will require a further spending increase to 3%, as HMG intends, then an in4vitable further increase to say 3.5% as a step towards this impossible 5% target.
That would enable him to look at the task in three chapters.
What we do now with the extra £5bn in the budget, what the priorities are for a 3% spend, then what is needed above and beyond that if we ever get to 3.5%.
I liked the way the Japanese organised their defence review. From memory, security and the wider geopolitical picture was one paper. Defence was the second paper, which looked specifically at defence needs, unencumbered by the rambling geopolitical and security stuff which makes up a such a large and muddled chunk of recent UK SDRs. Finally, the third paper set out the force posture and planned equipment acquisitions.
All very logical and sequential, in a way that would seem well beyond the MOD, particularly when the FCO is adding large swathes of text. The right place for the FCO and intelligence services’s input is paper 1, where the wider political and security threats are set out.
Agree.
HMG are terrified of talking numbers as they know they won’t spend the money needed to recruit the people to operate them and the numbers needed to restore some mass.
It’ll be the usual fudge, with some juicy carrots thrown in to make headlines, that will fool most, including journalists.
Real defence followers will see the cuts happening to enable said carrot.
The “cake ” that we buy with the “extra” money, subject to inflation and the state of the economy in 2027/28, will have lots of extra ingredients ie. security. I’m not holding my breath.
Of the money spent or any other money spent, how many fpv drones have actually been brought for the UK military, considering how devastating they have been in the Ukraine war.
The tech is developing rapidly but equally they are cheap and how you fly them hasn’t changed, so an order of a few thousand to train up at squad/fire team level should have been done
Having read of several training exercises concerning various Regiments, and wider Army competitions, that’s very likely.
Should be a Drone Company at least in every Brigade
No use reinventing the wheel …use the ones already being used in Ukraine
FLK, Wild Hornets, Ghost Squadron Leader, and more
Reconnaissance Drones
FPV Drone ( kamikaze)
The guy I help fundraise for has his drones in the UK.
Training some of the Ukrainians at a certain location…
Why are we not reorganising to do the same for the Army etc
Brigade level is too high. It needs to be far lower in the organisation. They are basically now the equiv of having an NLAW or sharpshooter, they should be at that level.
Sorry, yep, that’s what I meant to say🤣
But within a Brigade structure, the Brigade HQ will be able to see what’s going on via reconnaissance drones
Those UAV Platoon’s \ Companies \ Battalion’s on the frontline are in bunkers already, feeding back what they’re attacking
Able to support themselves in isolated area’s, with the right supply \ logistics
The frontline video footage we get back from our fundraisers is amazing💯
They know what drones they like to use and the explosive devices they can fit
Tried and tested, ready for instant use – $600 each, some are cheaper
You are right about them being equivalent to having an NLAW or a sharpshooter
And they have become so important on the battlefield, with 80% of attacks
The British Army needs to get a move on and sort itself out
PS: My team I’m in are having to buy 10 new batteries for Autel EVO max 4T drones, because they are all faulty, supplied from the state!… fastest way is FUNDRAISING💯😉🤷♂️
For once our defence companies have access to a real and unlimited testing facility in their R&D loop. By the look of it they are doing very well, probably better than the others. At the end of the war we should have world beating products to sell. With the price down at a level such that we can buy decent quantities for ourselves subject to the knowledge that they could go obsolescent quite quickly which is not what the military has been used to.
Not really. Majority of drones being used on Ukraine are Chinese models or ones using Chinese parts, whilst our domestic industry is a decade behind still focusing on large high cost drones. The west as a whole needs to be looking at creating western supply chains for cheap single use drones.
Lots of the drone parts are locally sourced and 3D printed !
Got to get rid of those US and Chinese parts.. huh !!!
The guys in Ukraine doing the drones have said the very same thing!
One company had British MPs come to visit…
I know him and his company and the hard work they do supplying the frontline, specifically just one Brigade, but they help others!
Example > 250 drones per month
He wants to expand and be able to build more
They are all VOLUNTEERS and get very little time off, and they are seriously knackered!
Just think if the Government and British Army invested in these small companies and gave them a contract to build a drone.
Help British Army, Help Ukrainian Army
Its a WIN, WIN