Gap year military scheme to launch for under-25s in 2026
The Ministry of Defence will launch a year-long military experience scheme in 2026, offering paid placements for 18 to 25 year olds across the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.
UK defence exports hit record £20bn in 2025
Government data indicates British defence exports are on track for their highest annual total since records began in 1983, driven by major naval and aerospace sales.
British forces deployed worldwide on Christmas Day
Thousands of British Armed Forces personnel will remain deployed or on standby across the globe on Christmas Day, continuing operations that span Europe, the Middle East, the Indo-Pacific, Africa, the Caribbean, British Overseas Territories and the UK itself.
Britain looking at rolling out laser weapons across forces
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that it is continuing to explore directed energy weapons across multiple domains.
RAF Voyager tankers and Typhoon jets scramble for Arctic
RAF Voyager tankers and Typhoon jets have been scrambled to support an inbound cargo aircraft, expected to enter UK airspace precisely at midnight tonight.
RAF engineer retention scheme for F-35 costs £113.5m
The Ministry of Defence has disclosed that the RAF’s Financial Retention Incentive for engineers supporting the UK’s F-35 Lightning programme is worth approximately £113.5 million.
UK confirms carrier drone refuelling still under review
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that work on autonomous, carrier-based refuelling and logistics aircraft for the Royal Navy remains ongoing, underlining that no decisions have yet been taken on fielding such systems.
Francois warns helicopter delays threaten Leonardo UK future
Conservative MP Mark Francois has warned that continued delays to UK defence procurement risk undermining Leonardo’s long-term presence in Britain.
MPs warn UK lags behind allies on drones
Senior Ministry of Defence officials have faced blunt criticism from MPs over the pace at which the UK is fielding drones and one-way effectors, amid warnings that British forces lag behind key European allies in deployed capability.
No decision yet on how many drones to fly with Apache
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that no decision has yet been made on how many Land Autonomous Collaborative Platforms could ultimately be procured to operate alongside the Army’s AH-64E Apache helicopters, as it set out the formal competition timeline for Project NYX.
