UKDI to invest GBP142 million in unmanned systems

A UAV targeted by the UK's DragonFire laser-directed energy weapon demonstrator catches alight during a test announced in November 2022. (Dstl/Crown Copyright)

UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) is planning to invest more than GBP142 million (USD187.3 million) in unmanned systems, which includes GBP30 million in counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UASs) technology in its first year of operation, according to a 15 December UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) press release.

The British companies involved in unmanned systems investment include 20 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), 11 “micro-SMEs”, and two academic institutions, according to the release.

Examples of 2025 UKDI investments include GBP25 million (USD33.49 million) for the delivery of the Royal Navy's Excalibur XLUUV (extra-large unmanned underwater vehicle) as part of its Atlantic Bastion programme; GBP20 million to support the development of additional laser-directed energy weapons (LDEWs) to work with the UK's DragonFire system; GBP7.5 million for the development of the Royal Navy's Proteus rotary-wing unmanned aircraft system (RWUAS) technology demonstrator; GBP12 million for the development of an air-launched collaborative UAS; and GBP5 million for prototypes of land Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACPs).

The UK MoD announced the launch of Project NYX on 4 November for the delivery of a capability concept demonstrator (CCD) for the land ACP project. The aim is to develop an UAS to pair with the Apache AH-64E attack helicopter, according to a pipeline tender notice.

Launched on 1 July, UKDI merged the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA), Defence Innovation Unit (DIU), Command Innovation Hubs, and Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) Future Capability Innovation (FCI), into a single organisation under the UK MoD. It has a GBP400 million budget, according to the MoD release.

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