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  • NEWS STORY : MOD awards £20 million contract to develop hypersonic capability

    NEWS STORY : MOD awards £20 million contract to develop hypersonic capability

    STORY

    The National Armaments Director (NAD) Group has awarded a contract to develop a hypersonic target, strengthening UK and allied missile defence capabilities.

    • The programme supports UK and allied missile defence, with a live flight demonstration planned for 2027 at the MOD Hebrides Range
    • Bowline strengthens UK sovereign hypersonics expertise and supports international collaboration through AUKUS Pillar 2

    The Ministry of Defence has awarded a £20 million contract to Lockheed Martin UK to deliver Project Bowline, a hypersonic target programme designed to support the development and testing of missile defence systems against advanced threats. The project is a key part of the UK’s contribution to allied air and missile defence, with a live flight demonstration planned for 2027 at the MOD Hebrides Range.

    The contract awarded by NAD Group will support around 63 jobs in Bedfordshire and inject £2 million into the supply chain, with over a third going directly to UK SMEs. It also marks the MOD’s return to hypersonic target development after more than a decade, rebuilding the sovereign capability in advanced targets.

    National Armaments Director Rupert Pearce said:

    Delivering Project Bowline will help ensure the UK stays ahead of rapidly evolving hypersonic threats. By working with our AUKUS partners and investing in advanced missile technology in the UK, we strengthen our national arsenal, boost a key sector in our economy, and support our ability to deliver effective missile defence.

    Under the contract, Lockheed Martin UK – at its advanced manufacturing facility – will design, manufacture, qualify and test a hypersonic target, a vehicle designed to represent high-speed threats capable of travelling at speeds reaching above Mach 5.

    The programme will culminate in a first flight demonstration, enabling the future assessment and qualification of next‑generation missile defence systems, including sensors and interceptors. Bowline has been awarded through the MOD’s Science and Technology Oriented Research and Development in Missile Defence (STORM) contract managed by the UK Missile Defence Centre and supports innovation in defence capability.

    Project Bowline builds on international collaboration under the AUKUS Pillar 2 Hypersonic Flight Test and Experimentation (HyFliTE) Project Arrangement, where the UK, United States and Australia are working together to accelerate hypersonic and counter‑hypersonic technologies. The US and Australia will provide critical contributions including flight test and research expertise and technical peer review.

    The programme is a prime example of the NAD Group’s core role in developing, delivering and sustaining the UK’s national arsenal.

    Bowline will enhance sovereign expertise in hypersonic systems, including modelling, manufacturing and testing, while strengthening partnerships across industry, small and medium enterprises and academia. This reflects a continued focus on accelerating capability delivery, deepening international collaboration and supporting UK economic growth through defence investment.

    Paul Livingston, Chief Executive of Lockheed Martin UK, said:

    For more than 85 years Lockheed Martin has partnered with the UK to help address complex defence and security challenges. The Project Bowline contract and programme highlight the strength of collaboration between government, UK industry, and international partners through the UK Missile Defence Centre, and will support sovereign innovation across the UK, capitalise on existing UK industry capability, and contribute to a more resilient and effective sovereign missile defence capability.

  • NEWS STORY : Southport victims’ families criticise Rudakubana’s transfer to Broadmoor

    NEWS STORY : Southport victims’ families criticise Rudakubana’s transfer to Broadmoor

    STORY

    The families of the three girls murdered in the Southport attack have accused Axel Rudakubana of attempting to manipulate the system after he was transferred from HMP Belmarsh to Broadmoor high-security psychiatric hospital. Their representatives said the development had caused further distress as the second anniversary of the attack approached and requested an urgent meeting with the relevant authorities.

    Rudakubana was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 52 years for murdering Alice da Silva Aguiar, Bebe King and Elsie Dot Stancombe, and attempting to murder eight other children and two adults at a dance workshop in Southport. He was moved to Broadmoor after clinical assessments concluded that he could not be managed safely in a prison environment because of his mental health.

    The Ministry of Justice said the transfer did not alter Rudakubana’s sentence and that he would remain securely detained. Prisoners transferred under the Mental Health Act receive treatment in a secure hospital and may be returned to prison if treatment is no longer required or their condition allows them to be managed safely in custody.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Business Secretary: “I’m backing investment and innovation to power good growth in every corner of the UK” [July 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Business Secretary: “I’m backing investment and innovation to power good growth in every corner of the UK” [July 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 22 July 2026.

    • New Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds sets out government’s ambition to harness innovation and drive good growth in every part of the UK.
    • Reynolds at Farnborough International Airshow to set out stall to go further and faster for growth by commercialising science and innovation to deliver for every postcode.
    • Announcement comes as government unveils £600m package to back British aerospace innovation, including research & development support and new supply chain fund.

    The new Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds will today (22 July) set out the Government’s ambition to harness the potential of science and innovation to power good growth in every corner of the country.

    In just the third day of Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s new government, the Secretary of State is visiting the Farnborough International Airshow to set out government’s stall on bringing British business, innovation and science together to deliver for every postcode.

    It comes as the new Government unveils a £600 million package of support for the UK aerospace industry at the Airshow, including over £500 million for cutting-edge aerospace research and technology projects to pioneer greener air travel, and a new £100 million Aerospace Supply Chain Fund to help ambitious suppliers scale up and meet the demand in a fast-growing and important industry.

    The new support forms part of the Prime Minister’s pledge to reindustrialise Britian and will help businesses in every part of the country develop cutting-edge new aerospace technologies, supporting innovation, attracting investment and securing high-skilled jobs in high-tech roles, 90 percent of which are outside London and the South East.

    Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

    This government is laser-focused on bringing good growth to every corner of the country, and we’re wasting no time getting on with the job.

    Aerospace is one of Britain’s great industrial success stories. Partnerships like this show the power of bringing business and innovation together to harness our strong manufacturing base and cutting-edge research to support skilled jobs right across the UK.

    Alongside today’s investment in pioneering research and development, the Government and British Business Bank have announced plans for a new £100 million Aerospace Supply Chain Fund, working with industry partners including Airbus, Rolls-Royce, GKN Aerospace, Safran and the trade body ADS.

    The proposed fund will help ambitious UK aerospace suppliers access the growth capital they need to expand, invest in productivity and workforce capability, and compete for new opportunities in a growing global market. By strengthening British manufacturing capability, it will support businesses to scale and create high-quality jobs across the country.

    The aerospace research and technology projects announced today will pioneer a wide range of technologies, from advanced aircraft wings and future engine systems to hydrogen-powered flight, digital engineering and advanced manufacturing.

    Examples include Airbus-led projects developing next-generation wing technologies and manufacturing processes, Rolls-Royce projects building on its world-leading UltraFan engine programme – working in partnership with government to prepare for Rolls-Royce to seize the opportunity of the narrowbody market – and companies including ZeroAvia and Safran advancing hydrogen and electric propulsion and more efficient aircraft systems.

    Together, the projects will help strengthen the UK’s position as a global aerospace leader, support the transition to greener aviation and turn world-class British innovation into investment, jobs and long-term economic growth.

    Gary Elliott, CEO, Aerospace Technology Institute said:

    The UK aerospace sector’s world-class innovation and manufacturing capability is being showcased at Farnborough this week. Today’s announcement reflects our commitment to keeping the UK at the forefront of aerospace technology, driving jobs, growth and competitiveness as we work to double the sector’s market value by 2035.

    These projects add to a balanced portfolio of investments that cement UK leadership in designing the future of flight.

    The Government has also signed a partnership with Embraer to deepen cooperation on aerospace innovation, research and development, and supply chain opportunities.

    The Memorandum of Understanding will help identify new opportunities for UK businesses within Embraer’s global supply chain, strengthen links between the UK and one of the world’s leading aerospace companies, and create new opportunities for British firms to grow and compete internationally.

    The Aerospace Growth Partnership (AGP) is also publishing its latest strategy update at Farnborough, setting out a shared government and industry plan for the UK aerospace sector through to 2030.

    The report reinforces a joint ambition to double the UK’s share of the global aerospace market by 2035 and position the sector for up to fourfold growth by 2050, while supporting the transition to net zero aviation through investment in innovation, skills and a stronger supply chain.

  • PRESS RELEASE : £708 million to accelerate UK next-generation air combat technology [July 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : £708 million to accelerate UK next-generation air combat technology [July 2026]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 22 July 2026.

    Thousands of British workers will accelerate development of advanced technologies for use by the Royal Air Force, following a £708 million investment announced today.

    • Contract awarded to continue development of advanced air combat technology for UK Armed Forces.  
    • More than 4,500 workers across the UK will develop cutting-edge defence technologies, including artificial intelligence and advanced software. 
    • A nationwide supply chain of around 600 British-based companies will benefit from the contract extension, which was announced as part of the Farnborough International Airshow.  

    The contract extends the existing programme with BAE Systems, accelerating development of the advanced technologies needed for the UK’s Future Combat Air System (FCAS). That technology includes pioneering dual-use capabilities, from first-in-the-UK digital engineering to artificial intelligence, and advanced manufacturing capabilities, such as augmented reality, additive manufacturing, and robotics. 

    The previous phase of investment delivered significant progress across the UK’s future combat air capability, including the expansion of digital engineering capabilities, development of critical physical infrastructure, and maturation of advanced technologies required for future combat air systems. 

    In part, today’s contract will provide vital UK national infrastructure and technology as a critical contribution to the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), as well as supporting the UK’s wider future combat air system.   

    The work will be led by BAE Systems, alongside Team Tempest partners Leonardo UK, MBDA UK and Rolls-Royce, with approximately 90% of the jobs based outside of London and the south-east. Around 600 companies and academic institutions across the UK form the programme’s supply chain, supporting thousands of skilled jobs and making defence an engine for growth. 

    Defence Secretary, Wes Streeting MP said: 

    This is a clear vote of confidence in British industry, and the thousands of highly skilled workers who are helping to keep our country safe.  

    This investment in advanced combat air technology for the UK Armed Forces will strengthen our defence and deterrence and shows our clear commitment to backing British workers with our defence investment, creating jobs and supporting communities across the UK.

    Simon Barnes, BAE Systems Group Managing Director said: 

    The Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme represents the UK’s ambition to shape the future of combat air and secure a leading role in the technologies, skills and capabilities that will define air power for decades to come. This additional investment will enable us, as Team Tempest partners, to continue pushing the boundaries of digital engineering, advanced systems and next-generation combat air technologies, helping sustain the UK’s position at the forefront of combat air innovation.

    The announcement follows the recently published Defence Investment Plan which confirmed that the UK would invest £8.6 billion into GCAP over the next four years. 

    Since 2018, the UK Government has invested more than £5 billion across the FCAS programme.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister meeting with Prime Minister Tusk of Poland [July 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister meeting with Prime Minister Tusk of Poland [July 2026]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 21 July 2026.

    The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk this evening.  

    The two leaders began by acknowledging the important partnership between the UK and Poland, particularly on security and defence, and the Prime Minister reiterated the UK’s steadfast commitment to the Northolt Treaty to strengthen cooperation in both areas.

    Turning to Ukraine, the Prime Minister thanked Prime Minister Tusk for Poland’s leadership and support, adding that his Government stood four-square behind Ukraine and securing a just and lasting peace.

    Setting out his ambition to build a closer relationship with the EU, the Prime Minister said he wanted his government to continue the momentum to build a strengthened relationship for the benefit of people and businesses on both sides.

    The leaders looked forward to speaking again soon.

  • PRESS RELEASE : FCDO Statement on Houthi threats against Saudi Arabia [July 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : FCDO Statement on Houthi threats against Saudi Arabia [July 2026]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 July 2026.

    An FCDO statement on recent Houthi threats against Saudi Arabia, including plans to impose a maritime blockade.

    An FCDO spokesperson said:

    The UK strongly condemns recent Houthi threats against Saudi Arabia, including plans to impose a maritime blockade. These provocations risk further regional instability, endanger freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, and undermine efforts to secure peace in Yemen.

    We stand firmly with Saudi Arabia, and other partners within the region, in the face of these threats and call on the Houthis to immediately cease their escalatory actions.

  • PRESS RELEASE : The UK welcomes the inaugural meeting of the Syrian People’s Assembly: UK statement at the UN Security Council [July 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : The UK welcomes the inaugural meeting of the Syrian People’s Assembly: UK statement at the UN Security Council [July 2026]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 July 2026.

    Statement by Ambassador Kate Foster, UK Chargé d’Affaires to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Syria.

    I will make three points. 

    First, the United Kingdom welcomes the inaugural meeting of the Syrian People’s Assembly on 12 July. 

    This is an important step towards establishing Syria’s new political settlement. 

    The UK stands ready to support the efforts to strengthen Syria’s institutions and to help build long-term peace, stability, and security. 

    And we look forward to working with the Assembly as it seeks to build an inclusive, prosperous future for all Syrians. 

    Second, Syria’s security situation remains fragile. 

    There is a real risk that wider regional conflict could undermine the country’s long overdue recovery. 

    And we urge all parties to de-escalate and to focus on rebuilding regional stability. 

    We condemn the egregious Iranian-claimed attacks against Syria last week.

    And we also call on Israel to set out a timeline for their withdrawal from areas in southern Syria.

    And we urge the Israeli Government to return to negotiations with the Syrian Government. This is in all parties’ interests.  

    We also condemn the recent terrorist attacks in Damascus and offer our deepest condolences to those affected. 

    There can be no justification for such violence. 

    The UK will continue to work closely with the Syrian Government to support its counterterrorism efforts, and we remain an active member of the Global Coalition against Daesh. 

    President, this month marks one year since the violence in the southern province of Suwayda, in which many innocent lives were lost, and tens of thousands of people displaced. 

    We continue to support efforts to find a negotiated solution for Suwayda: one that upholds Syria’s sovereignty and unity, while addressing accountability, social cohesion, access to essential services, and humanitarian assistance. 

    Finally, we welcome the landmark decision by the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to restore Syria’s rights and privileges. 

    This recognises the leadership and commitment of the Syrian Government in locating and destroying the stockpile of chemical weapons left by the Assad regime. 

    President, Syria has made important progress in its efforts to build peace and security for its people, and in its commitment to play a positive and constructive role in its neighbourhood. 

    The Council should continue to support Syria in these efforts and to help forge a safer and more prosperous future.

  • Ed Miliband – 2026 Comments on Appointment as Foreign Secretary

    Ed Miliband – 2026 Comments on Appointment as Foreign Secretary

    The comments made by Ed Miliband on 21 July 2026 following his appointment as Foreign Secretary.

    It is a great honour and privilege to have been appointed by the Prime Minister to serve as Foreign Secretary. 

    My parents came to Britain as Jewish refugees from the Nazis. To them, Britain was both a sanctuary and a beacon of hope in the global fight against fascism. I will carry my parents’ faith in that spirit of Britain to my role representing our country. 

    I will be a Foreign Secretary who fights for Britain’s interests and our values of democracy, freedom and the rule of law on the world stage. 

    Today, as we face a time of greater instability and threat to international law and democracy than at any time since the Second World War, these values are more important than ever.

    From Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine to conflict in the Middle East, time and again we have seen the consequences of a more dangerous world in the cost of living crisis that families and businesses face.

    For Britain, that means we must work with others to defend the principles that we cherish, because it is in our national interest to do so, building on the excellent work of my predecessors and friends, Yvette Cooper and David Lammy.

    I will seek to deepen and strengthen our strategic alliance with the European Union which is so important for our prosperity and security and at the same time nurture our strong, enduring and essential alliance with the United States. I will uphold our commitment to multilateral institutions from NATO to the UN as well as working with global partners, particularly in the Global South.

    Pursuing our interests and values means continuing to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Ukraine against Russia’s illegal invasion, as Britain has done for the last four years. It means playing our part to seek to end the conflict in Iran and fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz. It must also mean working tirelessly to seek a sustainable peace in Palestine and Israel, including an end to the terrible suffering of the people of Gaza and security for the people of Israel. 

    The FCDO I lead will also be at the forefront of issues which pose profound and substantial threats to justice and equality in Britain and across the world. We will work with others on tackling the climate crisis, strengthening our partnerships for international development, and reforming our international institutions so they deliver for all countries, including the world’s poorest people.

    FCDO is a great British institution filled with talented, expert, and committed staff who do crucial consular work for our country and have reach across the world. I look forward to working with Britain’s world-class network of embassies, diplomats, civil servants, businesses, and cultural organisations to represent and promote the interests and values of our great country.

  • PRESS RELEASE : £20 million investment for hypersonic target to test air defence systems and boost British small businesses [July 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : £20 million investment for hypersonic target to test air defence systems and boost British small businesses [July 2026]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 21 July 2026.

    British small businesses will help develop a hypersonic ‘clay pigeon’ target, a vehicle intended to represent threats capable of travelling at five times the speed of sound, under a new £20m investment announced today.

    • £20 million contract will directly benefit British small-and-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) throughout the supply chain, showing how defence is an engine for growth.
    • A new SME Action Plan will remove barriers and open up defence supply chains for British SMEs. 
    • Hypersonic ‘clay pigeon’ target will help new defence systems to counter advanced missiles and is part of a trilateral partnership between Australia, the UK, and the United States.

    British small businesses will help develop a hypersonic ‘clay pigeon’ target, a vehicle intended to represent threats capable of travelling at five times the speed of sound, under a new £20m investment announced today. The target will test missile defence systems designed to protect the UK from advanced threats such as hypersonic missiles.

    The contract, awarded to Lockheed Martin UK, will support around 63 jobs in Bedfordshire, and have 15 UK SMEs benefitting through the supply chain, showing how defence is an engine for growth.

    It comes as the government unveils today a new Defence SME Action Plan, which will open up opportunities for small businesses across the defence supply chain.

    Known as Project Bowline, the work will produce a hypersonic target, designed to act as an advanced ‘clay pigeon’ for next-generation air defence systems, including sensors and interceptors, to shoot down as they’re developed. This will help the UK test counter-hypersonic missile capabilities, ensuring that the Armed Forces lead on producing and countering the most advanced threats.

    The project is part of international collaboration under AUKUS Pillar 2, the trilateral partnership between Australia, the UK, and the United States to develop advanced military capabilities, including hypersonic and counter-hypersonic technologies.

    Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard MP said:

    British businesses are the backbone of our defence industry, and we’re backing them to succeed. Our SME Action Plan will give firms of every size a clearer, faster route to contracts at home, while programmes like Project Bowline show exactly how major defence investment flows through to small businesses across the UK.

    With our commitment to spend £7.5 billion with UK SMEs by 2028 and a further £400 million ringfenced for UK Defence Innovation every year, defence is delivering growth across the UK, sustaining skilled jobs and strengthening our security at the same time.

    The new SME Action Plan, led by the Defence Office for Small Business Growth, sets out concrete steps to remove the barriers small and medium businesses face when working with defence – opening up supply chains, simplifying procurement and creating accessible opportunities across the defence industry. The plan will simplify processes at all stages of the contracting cycle and marks another key step in the MOD’s drive to increase defence spending with SMEs to £7.5 billion by 2028, representing a 50% increase on the current spend.

    The announcements come as the Defence Secretary Wes Streeting MP and Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard MP are championing the UK defence industry at the Farnborough International Air Show, one of the world’s largest aerospace and defence trade events.

    National Armaments Director Rupert Pearce said:

    Delivering Project Bowline will help ensure the UK stays ahead of rapidly evolving hypersonic threats. By working with our AUKUS partners and investing in advanced missile technology in the UK, we strengthen our national arsenal, boost a key sector in our economy, and support our ability to deliver effective missile defence.

    The Ministry of Defence already works with around 12,000 SMEs through its supply chain, and that work has only accelerated in the year since publication of the Modern Industrial Strategy and Defence Industrial Strategy. That work has included: the launch of the Defence Growth Deals and Defence Technical Excellence Colleges; the award of thirteen British-based SMEs contracts of up to £4 million each from the Defence Unicorn Fund; and the ringfencing of £400 million annually for UKDI to accelerate innovation. 

    Kevin Craven, CEO of ADS said:

    We welcome the publication of the SME Action Plan today – it is a positive and timely step towards unlocking the full potential of the UK’s defence industrial base. Smaller businesses – including more than 1500 ADS members – form our industrial bedrock, delivering innovation, agility and critical capabilities throughout the UK.

    Commitments to simplifying procurement processes, improve access to opportunities and increase engagement with smaller businesses will help ensure that innovative UK companies can compete, invest and scale with confidence.

    We look forward to working closely with Government and our members to deliver this ambition into tangible opportunities for businesses across every region of the UK.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister call with the Taoiseach of Ireland [July 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister call with the Taoiseach of Ireland [July 2026]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 21 July 2026.

    The Prime Minister spoke to the Taoiseach of Ireland, Micheál Martin, today.

    The Taoiseach began by congratulating the Prime Minister on his appointment, with the Prime Minister thanking him and underlining how much he is looking forward to working together.

    The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of the UK’s partnership with Ireland and welcomed the continued close cooperation, particularly through the annual UK-Ireland Summit. 

    The leaders agreed on the need to continue to work together across shared priorities, including security, energy, and both countries’ enduring commitment to the Good Friday agreement.

    The Prime Minister then congratulated the Taoiseach on the launch of Ireland’s EU Presidency. He reiterated the UK’s commitment to strengthening relations with the EU, to deliver opportunities for normal people across the UK. 

    The Prime Minister and Taoiseach said they looked forward to meeting in person soon.