Category: Press Releases

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 13 October 2025.

The Defence Secretary, with the approval of the Prime Minister, has announced the appointment of Rupert Pearce as National Armaments Director (NAD) at the Ministry of Defence (MOD).

• Rupert Pearce appointed as National Armaments Director, bringing extensive FTSE100 leadership experience.
• Crucial appointment in the biggest defence reforms for more than 50 years.
• NAD role to drive economic growth while bolstering national security – delivering on the government’s Plan for Change.

UK defence procurement and industrial partnerships will be fundamentally reshaped by a highly experienced leader, as Rupert Pearce is appointed on a 5-year fixed-term basis.

The NAD is a critical role that will shape the future of UK defence as part of the biggest defence reforms for more than 50 years – speeding up decisions, tackling waste and improving outcomes for our Armed Forces.

Working closely with the Defence Secretary and a key pillar of the Strategic Defence Review, the NAD will deliver the national arsenal needed for the UK Armed Forces to execute defence operations demanded by the current global threat picture.  

Mr Pearce brings extensive leadership experience from the private sector, including 16 years at FTSE100 satellite telecommunications company Inmarsat, where he served as CEO for nine years.  

He will take up the role of NAD on 14th October, with Andy Start, who has been establishing the new Group as National Armaments Director in an interim capacity, supporting him for the first few months of his tenure.

His proven track record of managing large-scale organisations, driving innovation, and building international partnerships makes him ideally suited to lead the transformation of how defence works with industry to deliver for our Armed Forces. Additionally, his venture capital experience will bolster his role working with UK Defence Innovation, supporting firms of all sizes to take state-of-the-art technology from the drawing board to the production line. 

The NAD will change how defence partners with industry to grow the UK economy, create jobs across the country, and deliver UK exports. This will drive economic growth whilst bolstering national security – a foundation of the government’s Plan for Change.  

National Armaments Director, Rupert Pearce said:   

I am deeply honoured to be appointed as the UK’s National Armaments Director. It is vital that our Armed Forces have cutting edge capabilities at their disposal to project an effective deterrent, both alone and in conjunction with NATO and our other allies.   

To deliver this, we will transform MOD’s relationship with its industrial partners so that the UK defence industry becomes a strategic asset, innovating at wartime pace and driving economic growth. I look forward to working with all my new stakeholders to deliver on this vision.

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:

The National Armaments Director will be a cornerstone of defence reform, positioning the UK to meet evolving global threats whilst making defence an engine for growth in communities across the nation. 

Rupert is an exceptional leader with extensive experience in high-value budgets, effective reform, and delivery on the global stage. He will ensure our forces have the equipment they need, on time and on budget.   

The threat we face is growing; this is a serious appointment to spearhead the national arsenal and help make Britain secure at home and strong abroad.

Cabinet Secretary, Sir Chris Wormald, said:  

I would like to congratulate Rupert Pearce on his appointment as National Armaments Director. Rupert’s extensive leadership experience from the private sector makes him excellently suited to transform how the government works with the defence industry and support delivery of the biggest defence reforms for more than 50 years.  

I look forward to working with Rupert as he leads this vital work to modernise defence procurement and deliver economic growth whilst bolstering national security.

The National Armaments Director will be responsible for:  

• Delivering the capabilities required from industry to execute the Defence plans and operations demanded by the new era.
• Delivering the Defence Industrial Strategy.
• Ensuring a resilient supply chain and the required readiness of the national ‘arsenal’.
• Leading on UK defence exports and acquisition reform.
• Speeding up procurement and reducing duplication while working closely with wider government, industry, academia, and international partners to deploy best practice and investment.

The appointment comes at a crucial time, following the Prime Minister’s commitment to the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War, with spending rising to 2.6% of GDP by 2027 and an ambition to reach 3% in the next Parliament.  

The role will see Mr Pearce implement the Defence Industrial Strategy and oversee a single new investment budget, consolidating eight separate procurement budgets across the organisation. This streamlined approach aims to cut procurement waste and duplication whilst boosting NATO interoperability and ensuring a resilient supply chain.  

Mr Pearce’s background includes early career experience as a lawyer, before moving into the technology and telecommunications sector. Beyond his tenure at Inmarsat, he served as CEO of innovative energy company Highview Power and worked as a Venture Partner for Columbia Capital, a technology venture capital firm.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 12 October 2025.

It comes as the latest in a series of drug seizures by the Royal Navy in the Gulf region.

Royal Marine snipers disabled a drugs boat speeding across the Gulf of Oman as frigate HMS Lancaster dealt a £35 million blow to the illegal narcotics trade.

Commando snipers brought the ‘skiff ‘– zipping over the waves at speeds in excess of 40 knots while its crew tried to ditch their illegal cargo – to an immediate halt with a bullseye shot to knock out the boat’s engine.

The snipers took aim from a Wildcat helicopter launched from the warship to intercept three suspect craft in one of the most dramatic counter-drugs intercepts the Royal Navy has been involved with in the Middle East.

More than one-and-a-half tonnes of drugs were recovered in all – heroin, crystal methamphetamine and hashish with an estimated UK street value in excess of £35 million. 

Keeping the country safe is the Government’s first priority, and an integral part of its Plan for Change. The work of the Royal Navy at home and abroad is critical to the security and stability of the UK and directly contributes to the government’s Safer Streets Mission.  

The UK remains steadfast in its commitment to our armed forces and has pledged to raise defence spending to 2.6% of GDP from 2027, with the aspiration to further increase it to 3% during the next parliament.

Minister for the Armed Forces, Al Carns, said:

Outstanding work by the crew of the HMS Lancaster who stopped and seized £35M worth of dangerous and illicit drugs at sea. Moreover, a well-planned operation culminating in a surgical shot by a Royal Marines sniper disabling the engine of a vessel traveling at 40 knots. That’s excellence at work.

Not only have our Royal Navy and Royal Marines disrupted a major criminal enterprise and kept drugs off our streets and away from our kids, but have once again demonstrated effectiveness, decisive action and the exceptionally high standard of our Royal Navy and Marines.

I salute our Royal Navy and Royal Marines for their indefatigable work keeping us safe at home and strong abroad.

This is the first time snipers have been called upon to use non-lethal force to disable a suspicious boat in the Gulf region – where typically slow-moving dhows are used to hide the illicit cargoes – unlike the Caribbean, where the tactic has proved effective on several occasions.

The operation began when HMS Lancaster launched her Wildcat from 815 Naval Air Squadron on a dawn patrol over the Gulf of Oman.

Her crew soon picked up three suspicious skiffs travelling at speed – and secretly shadowed them while relaying critical information back to the warship.

That allowed Lancaster to launch her Peregrine mini-helicopter drone to continue monitoring the skiffs – again undetected – providing a live video feed to the ship’s operations room. 

Meanwhile, the Wildcat returned to refuel and embark a Maritime Sniper Team from 42 Commando – the Royal Marines’ specialists in boarding operations – to close in for the interception.

When the helicopter appeared over the skiffs, their crews immediately increased speed to more than 40 knots and began hurling their cargo into the water to reduce weight.

Ultimately, it led to two of the skiffs being abandoned – but not the third which persisted in trying to get away.

At this point, the marines targeted the outboard engine, neutralising it with a single round, while crew of the warship’s sea boat recovered the discarded packages and located a partially-submerged abandoned skiff.

The operation highlights HMS Lancaster’s capability to deter illicit activities and disrupt the narcotics trade. 

Commander Sam Stephens, Commanding Officer of HMS Lancaster said:

I’m hugely proud of the team’s professionalism, patience, and skill throughout what was a protracted chase,

This operation saw Lancaster’s crewed and uncrewed aircraft working hand-in-glove under the direction of the ship’s operations room. The outcome was a highly-successful bust, removing large quantities of narcotics from the streets and preventing their profits from fuelling extremism.

Wildcat pilot Lieutenant Guy Warry added:

Non-lethal disabling fire has not been seen in the region and was essential in preventing the drug runners from moving their product.

Being the Wildcat pilot carrying out a live weapons firing on drug-running skiffs whilst flying backwards to provide a stable platform for the snipers was definitely a career highlight.

This interdiction is a true testament to the high levels of training that both the flight, MST and ship have achieved prior to the bust.

HMS Lancaster is a Type 23 frigate deployed to the Middle East region on a long-term mission as part of wider efforts by the UK to provide regional maritime security and stability.

It’s the first bust Lancaster has scored since she intercepted a £30 million shipment of illegal narcotics in late May.