Large angular naval vessel gliding on calm sea with two smaller speedboats nearby under a cloudy sky, creating white wake.

UK reviewing rules that slow drone testing, MPs told

Ministers say a regulatory sandbox in the Regulating for Growth Bill would greatly help test uncrewed systems, as a review of the rules continues.

No timeline yet for HMS Protector replacement, MPs told

Funding has been set aside to replace the Royal Navy's Antarctic patrol ship, but the MOD says the procurement method is still undecided.

Steel tariffs are pushing up costs for defence

Luke Pollard confirmed the government's own tariff rise is adding to defence costs, in the one case where the state has imposed the increase on itself.
Industrial boat factory with row of speedboats on workbenches and tools along the wall

Kraken hits £1bn valuation after funding round

The British drone boat maker, whose vessels have been airdropped from an A400M this week, has closed a Series B backed by DTCP and the NATO fund.
Construction site with a multi-story brick building and a tall crane overhead; workers in hi-vis vests on the ground and fencing surrounding the area.

New submariner housing takes shape at HM Naval Base Clyde

The final panel has gone into a £166m accommodation project at Faslane, with the first submariner trainee blocks due online later this year.

UK to lead huge deep strike missile effort against Russia

Twelve nations will spend £37bn on missiles able to hit targets 2,000km away, in an announcement Downing Street also published in Russian.
Warship cruising at sea, gray stealthy hull slicing through waves under cloudy sky

Britain’s new drone command warship hull design to be chosen

The MOD says the Common Combat Vessel will coordinate drones in the air, on the surface and underwater, with hull form options still being explored.

Shipbuilding boom risks another bust, Sweeney warns

A surge in shipbuilding announcements could leave Britain with too many yards, too little sustained work and another damaging boom-and-bust cycle, Paul Sweeney MSP has warned.

At what point does Britain say enough is enough over Russia?

Russia has poisoned British citizens, burned property, hacked hospitals and menaced an aircraft carrier, Graeme Downie told the Commons, and the government still will not say what would cross the threshold.

Babcock takes two national engineering skills awards

The defence company won Large Employer Skills Champion and New Talent Inspiration Programme at the Enginuity Skills Awards 2026.