RAF Chinooks and A400M to fight UK wildfires from the sky
The Royal Air Force will equip its Chinook helicopters and A400M Atlas transport aircraft to fight fires, giving Britain an aerial firefighting capability permanently based in the United Kingdom for the first time.
Hardened shelters an option for jets at RAF Akrotiri
Hardened aircraft shelters may form part of future infrastructure considerations at RAF Akrotiri, with options to improve aircraft survivability and operational resilience still being explored.
DragonFire stays a sovereign programme for now
Ministers have declined to commit Ukraine to a role in the DragonFire laser programme, saying the department is focused on maturing advanced sovereign technologies.
Defence spending in Northern Ireland hits record high
Ministry of Defence expenditure with industry in Northern Ireland rose by sixty-three per cent in a single year to reach £464 million in 2025-26, the highest level since records began.
Canada GCAP observer role to strengthen defence ties
Canada's involvement as an observer in the Global Combat Air Programme will further strengthen British bilateral defence cooperation with Canada, building on decades of close collaboration.
Ministers to brief industry chiefs on hostile state threat
The Security Minister and the Minister for the Armed Forces will chair chief executive roundtable threat briefings with critical national infrastructure and industry leaders.
British drone downs attack drones with guided rockets
A modified version of the Malloy Aeronautics T-150 uncrewed air system has intercepted multiple one-way attack drones during an experiment in Florida, firing laser-guided rockets from a three-pod launcher.
Satellites underpin almost a fifth of British GDP
Satellite services underpin 18 per cent of United Kingdom GDP, and the new UK Space Strategy and the Defence Investment Plan together commit £3.2 billion to protect British jobs in the sector.
Deloitte contract scrapped after million pound payment
The Ministry of Defence terminated its Project SERAPH contract with Deloitte for convenience and moved to an alternative delivery model.
Base security boosted after Fairford and Molesworth breaches
An additional £470 million over four years will go into protecting defence sites, with security strengthened across the estate following the incidents at RAF Fairford and RAF Molesworth.
