Tag: Ministry of Defence

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 1 June 2026.

New contracts worth £36 million to supply hundreds of Lightweight Multirole Missiles for UK Armed Forces.

The Ministry of Defence has signed new contracts with Thales in the UK to supply hundreds more Lightweight Multirole Missiles to the Armed Forces – boosting UK stockpiles and strengthening the protection of British personnel in the Middle East and beyond.

Deliveries will begin in the coming months and continue throughout 2026, ensuring the Armed Forces remain equipped to counter aerial threats.

The contracts support around 700 highly skilled jobs at Thales in Belfast, where the missiles are designed and manufactured. This Government is backing UK defence industry – supporting jobs while boosting national security and resilience.

The latest contract, placed by the National Armaments Director Group in May, follows an additional order for the battle-proven Lightweight Multirole Missiles in April.

Lightweight Multirole Missiles have already proven highly effective on operations. They have played a key role in defeating drone attacks in the Middle East, with more than 100 drones shot down using the missiles, including by RAF Regiment gunners using the Rapid Sentry air defence kit.

Defence Secretary, John Healey MP, said:

Our UK defence industry is the backbone of our Armed Forces. This is our new partnership with industry in action.

We’re getting UK-built kit into the hands of our forces faster as we support good skilled jobs and drive growth across the UK. These interceptor missiles are battle-proven – successfully used in action by our RAF sharp shooters over recent months.  

With these LMMs, our dedicated Armed Forces will continue to keep the UK and our partners more secure in the Middle East and beyond.

The missiles are also deployed on Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters, helping defend British people, bases, and allies from UK bases in Cyprus.

This investment forms part of wider work by the Ministry of Defence and National Armaments Director Group to increase resilience in munitions supply chains and ensure the UK can sustain operations alongside allies.

This year, the UK has stepped up its defensive presence across the Middle East, with more than 1,000 personnel deployed across the region, including fast jet squadrons and specialist counter-drone teams protecting British people, bases, and allies.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 30 May 2026.

First-of-its-kind project to develop cutting-edge uncrewed underwater technologies as AUKUS nations ‘step on the accelerator’ for Pillar 2.

• Follows first successful submarine maintenance period for a UK submarine at HMAS Stirling earlier this year, as UK and US submarines set to rotate through the Australian base from 2027.
• Additionally, three British companies named amongst winners of the UK 2025 AUKUS Maritime Innovation Challenge, receiving a share of £3 million.

Pioneering technologies deployed from uncrewed underwater vessels have been announced by AUKUS Defence Ministers at a meeting in Singapore which pushed forward progress in the trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The joint development of transformational tech is the first signature project to be announced under Pillar 2 of the partnership, with the first capabilities expected in service next year.

Under AUKUS, Pillar 1 focuses on Australia’s acquisition of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines, while Pillar 2 pools the talents of each nations’ defence sector to develop advanced military capabilities to support security around the world.

Announced by Defence Secretary John Healey MP alongside US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles in Singapore, the new project will see AUKUS partners ‘step on the accelerator’ for Pillar 2 of the programme to develop, produce and deploy cutting-edge technologies carried by uncrewed underwater vessels (UUV). The work shows how AUKUS partners are collaborating to rapidly develop groundbreaking maritime capabilities to boost warfighting readiness.

This work will support the development of payloads, such as sensors and weapons systems, that can be deployed across all three nations’ UUV fleets, increasing collective strength and deterrence across the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic. This project will provide opportunities for UK industry in furthering work on underwater capabilities, supporting good jobs and growth across the nation.

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:

AUKUS is delivering for our security and for our economy. Together we are announcing ground-breaking underwater capabilities that will keep Britain safe, backing British businesses that are driving growth, and standing shoulder to shoulder with our closest allies. This is what modern defence looks like. We’re stepping on the accelerator to develop cutting-edge tech to boost our collective deterrence and support our shared security.

The first capabilities are expected to be in service by 2027 and will help drive the Royal Navy’s transition to a Hybrid Navy – a more flexible, modern force that blends crewed and uncrewed platforms. The payloads will allow the Royal Navy to detect underwater threats to the UK and allies’ critical undersea infrastructure. The Royal Navy will be able to integrate payloads from the US and Australia, meaning a more effective and lethal force. The tech will be used to reinforce the future SSN-AUKUS attack submarine fleet.

Defence Secretary John Healey also announced the winners of the 2025 AUKUS Maritime Innovation Challenge. The challenge is the second iteration of AUKUS Pillar 2’s Innovation Challenge Series and sought companies innovating which enable the command, control and teaming of undersea systems.  Three of the four winning suppliers are UK based:

• Decision Analysis Services Ltd., an SME based in Basingstoke
• SEA Ltd., a large enterprise based in Frome
• A-2i, a micro-consultancy based in Dorchester, Dorset
• MSI Transducers, a large enterprise based near Boston, USA

The winners show the breadth and diversity of innovation across AUKUS innovation: three UK and one US company, one SME, two large suppliers, and one micro-consultancy. Each company will receive a share of £3 million in funding to develop and test their capabilities.

This investment in three British companies demonstrates how defence is driving economic growth across the UK, creating skilled jobs and opportunities for companies of all sizes. The UK Government is committed to backing SMEs and scalable business.

The AUKUS Defence Ministers also announced progress in establishing Submarine Rotational Force-West, which will see a rotational presence of UK and US nuclear-powered submarines at HMAS Stirling in Australia. The first rotation of a nuclear-powered US submarine to HMAS Stirling is expected in 2027, to be followed by a UK Astute Class submarine. This follows the first successful submarine maintenance period (SMP) conducted on a UK Astute class submarine at HMAS Stirling earlier this year.

Today’s announcements are the latest in a series of significant milestones delivered by this Government under AUKUS, building on the Geelong Treaty signed in July 2025, which established the framework for the deepest level of bilateral UK-Australian defence cooperation in generations.

The AUKUS partnership is backed by the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War – hitting 2.6% of GDP from 2027.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 29 May 2026.

The first National Cadet Week in October 2026 will celebrate the cadet forces, one of the country’s most effective youth organisations.

• The first National Cadet Week in October 2026 will celebrate the cadet forces, one of the country’s most effective youth organisations
• A new Cadets Action Plan will set out the government’s long-term vision for the cadet forces
• The initiative will help deliver on the Strategic Defence Review’s demand for a whole-of-society approach to defence

Tens of thousands of young people across the UK will have the opportunity to discover the cadet forces as the government announces the first ever National Cadets Week, taking place from 5-11 October 2026.

The week will celebrate the UK’s cadet community – one of the country’s most effective youth organisations – and the tens of thousands of young people and adult volunteers who make the cadets a success.

Throughout the week, cadet units across the UK will open their doors to schools, families, and local communities. Cadets and volunteers will take part in outreach activities, delivering presentations to schools and places of work to raise awareness of the programme. 

With a strong focus on first aid training, activities will showcase the opportunities available, and inspire new cadets, attract new volunteers, and demonstrate how cadet experiences help prepare young people for adult life.

As part of the Strategic Defence Review’s whole-of-society approach to defence, National Cadets Week aims to deepen the bond between the Armed Forces and communities across the UK.

Minister for Veterans and People Louise Sandher-Jones MP said:

Cadet forces are one of the best examples we have of the whole-of-society approach to defence in action, bringing together young people from all backgrounds and giving them the confidence, skills and sense of purpose that benefit their communities and our country as a whole. 

None of this would be possible without the thousands of adult volunteers who give their time freely, and I want to thank every one of them. I hope National Cadets Week inspires more people to get involved and support their local cadet force. You don’t need a military background, just a commitment to young people. It is one of the most rewarding things you can do.

Under the Government’s ‘30 by 30’ campaign launched in August 2025, the MOD is expanding cadet opportunities for a new generation of young people – boosting the cadet forces by 30% by 2030.

This will deliver over 40,000 more cadets across the UK, supporting the government’s commitment to break down the barriers holding back Britain’s young people.

Royal Navy cadet Lila Unlu, age 14, said:

Being a cadet has given me amazing opportunities I would never have experienced in my day-to-day life. It’s taught me so much about resilience, team building, and leadership. Along the way I’ve made some incredible friends, built confidence and created memories and skills that will stay with me for life.

The initiative will showcase the opportunities available through the MOD-sponsored cadet forces: the Royal Navy Cadets (Sea Cadet Corps and Volunteer Cadet Corps), Army Cadet Force, Air Training Corps and Combined Cadet Force. 

A new Cadets Action Plan will be published during National Cadets Week setting out the government’s long-term vision to expand high-quality, accessible cadet provision and ensure more young people from all backgrounds can benefit. This will include modernising the cadet experience, providing an attractive offer to retain and recruit adult volunteers, and ensuring that cadets and volunteers have the right resources and support.

Minister for Schools Standards, Georgia Gould, said:

National Cadets Week will be a fantastic chance to celebrate the incredible difference cadet programmes make to young people’s lives across the UK.

We’re making sure more young people than ever are building confidence and life skills through cadets in schools and we’re going further to make sure every child and young person at every school and college can access a range life-changing extra-curricular activities like sports, outdoor adventure and civic engagement.

Boosting the whole-of-society approach to national resilience, the week will celebrate the dedicated network of adult volunteers who lead local cadet groups.

Through the cadets, young people develop essential life skills, including leadership, teamwork, and resilience, taking part in activities ranging from adventurous training and fieldcraft to flying, sailing, and gaining Civil Aviation Authority-endorsed drone qualifications.

Participants can also work towards nationally recognised qualifications, including BTECs, first aid certifications and The Duke of Edinburgh Award. 

The Cadets Action Plan will support the growth of the cadet forces, helping more young people to progress into careers in the Armed Forces, public services, and wider defence sector, while strengthening national resilience.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 28 May 2026.

UK welcomes Sweden’s leadership in brokering new deal to supply Ukraine with fighter jets.

Ukraine’s defence against Russian aggression will be strengthened through a major new fighter jet deal, with essential parts of the aircraft to be built in Britain, supporting over 5000 UK jobs.   

The deal is set to unlock Ukraine’s ambitions to build a strong air force, interoperable with NATO Allies, and will see 16 Swedish Gripen aircraft urgently gifted to Ukraine.  

Ukraine will also be purchasing 20 new Gripen aircraft through an EU support loan, ensuring their future capacity.  

The deal will give Ukrainian forces modern, agile and highly capable multirole air combat platforms to fight back against Russia’s illegal invasion. The aircraft will significantly strengthen Ukraine’s air power and bolster NATO supply chains and resilience across the Alliance.  

The Gripen is a collaboration between the UK, Sweden and the US. Companies across the UK supply critical components including the radar and landing gear, with over 30% of each aircraft manufactured in the UK. At least 50 British-based companies, from Saab UK in Fareham to Leonardo UK in Edinburgh, are set to be involved in the deal, supporting over 5000 UK jobs.  

The UK continues to play a leading role in international support for Ukraine with training for Ukrainian Armed Forces, expertise sharing and billions of pounds per year of military equipment support including 120,000 drones for the country this year. Combined military support from the UK and Sweden since Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion in February 2022 now stands at £11.4 billion.  

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:  

This deal shows what British industry can achieve on the world stage – supporting thousands of jobs from Yeovil to Edinburgh while helping to deliver the air power Ukraine needs to defend itself against Russia’s illegal invasion. 

By standing with our allies and backing Ukraine, we are securing real benefits for British workers and businesses. This is our international partnerships working for Britain.

Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard MP said:  

As the fierce resistance of the Ukrainians continues, and as Russian aggression grows, the UK will not waver. We will stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine and our NATO Allies like Sweden, bringing the combined power of our industries to bear to support the fight against Putin’s illegal war.   

This deal is both a big boost for Ukraine’s air power and a show of confidence in our world-leading UK defence industry, supporting thousands of good British jobs here at home. This is the UK stepping up as one for Ukraine: our government, our military and our industry.

The UK and Sweden share a strong defence and security partnership, built on JEF and NATO membership and a shared commitment to security in the Baltic Sea region and the High North. Last summer a squadron of Swedish Gripens deployed to Poland alongside the Royal Air Force to conduct NATO air policing.  

The UK and Sweden have a strong track record of industrial collaboration in defence, demonstrated by Gripen export successes in Colombia and Thailand. Saab is investing £100 million in its Fareham site in the UK, while BAE Systems has a long-standing presence in Sweden through BAE Bofors and BAE Hägglunds – helping drive the next generation of defence and maritime technology, combining the best of Swedish and British innovation.  

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 20 May 2026.

UK Rivet Joint aircraft repeatedly and dangerously intercepted by two Russian jets over the Black Sea.

An RAF Rivet Joint aircraft was repeatedly and dangerously intercepted by two Russian jets last month over the Black Sea. 

One Russian Su-35 aircraft flew close enough to trigger emergency systems on the Rivet Joint, including disabling the autopilot system.

In another dangerous intercept, a Russian Su-27 aircraft conducted six passes in front of the British aircraft, flying as close as six metres of the Rivet Joint’s nose.

The Rivet Joint aircraft was carrying out a routine flight in international airspace over the Black Sea and was unarmed, which is part of the UK’s work alongside allies to secure NATO’s Eastern Flank.

Despite the dangerous Russian actions, the RAF crew remained calm and professional throughout and completed their planned flight.

This week, representatives from the UK Ministry of Defence and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office démarched the Russian Embassy to condemn the pilots’ dangerous and unacceptable behaviour.

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:

This incident is another example of dangerous and unacceptable behaviour by Russian pilots, towards an unarmed aircraft operating in international airspace. These actions create a serious risk of accidents and potential escalation.

I would like to pay tribute to the outstanding professionalism and bravery of the RAF crew who continued with their mission despite these dangerous actions.

Let me be very clear: This incident will not deter the UK’s commitment to defend NATO, our allies and our interests from Russian aggression.

This incident was the most dangerous Russian action against a UK Rivet Joint since 2022, when a Russian plane fired a missile over the Black Sea.

The RAF Rivet Joint is a reconnaissance aircraft that uses advanced sensors for electronic surveillance, enhancing situational awareness and helping keep NATO territory safe.

This latest incident comes amid continued Russian aggression and heightened military activity in Eastern Europe and the High North.

The intercepts came just days after the Defence Secretary exposed nefarious Russian submarine activity over critical underwater infrastructure in the North Atlantic, where British personnel, ships and aircraft were deployed alongside our Allies.

The UK remains ironclad in its commitment to support our allies and defend every inch of NATO territory and its 1 billion citizens.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 19 May 2026.

Thirteen British businesses have been awarded contracts of up to £4 million to work with the Ministry of Defence to boost rapid procurement and deliver cutting-edge technology for the UK Armed Forces.

• Thirteen British tech companies sign contracts with defence to develop cutting-edge systems. 
• Companies from across England, Wales and Scotland set to receive contracts worth up to £4 million for quantum sensing and autonomous systems to secure communications, space manufacturing and synthetic training.  
• Part of new scheme to grow next billion-pound British ‘defence unicorns’ and boost to British businesses, jobs and UK Armed Forces readiness. 

The new scheme gives accelerated contracts to small, innovative British companies who have done limited or no previous business with the Ministry of Defence. 

More than half of winning firms are new to defence, with contracts awarded to companies from across England, Wales and Scotland, less than four months since the new ‘defence unicorn’ fund was announced. 

The thirteen innovative British companies have been awarded contracts to develop cutting-edge technology for the UK’s Armed Forces as part of the Government’s work to open up new routes for small and growing businesses into the defence sector and deliver on the government’s Industrial Strategy. 

The announcement comes as the Defence Secretary John Healey MP addresses the Good Growth Foundation today (Tuesday), arguing that Britain’s record defence investment must come with a back British pledge to boost UK jobs and innovation. He will tell the audience that today’s contracts are just the start of that approach. 

The contracts – the largest worth £4 million – have been awarded through Commercial X, the Ministry of Defence’s accelerated contracting vehicle, as part of the government’s search for Britain’s next defence unicorn.  

The contracts underline the Government’s focus on moving at pace, getting contracts to innovative British businesses faster than traditional procurement routes allow, and getting innovative new kit into the hands of UK Armed Forces.  

The contracts support jobs in communities across Britain including Devon, Edinburgh, Newport in Wales and West Yorkshire. All the companies were founded after 2011, and the vast majority started in the last six years. 

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: 

This government is backing British innovators and entrepreneurs, doing things differently to deliver for our forces. 

These are contracts, not words or promises, and they mean that thirteen British companies, many of them new to defence, are receiving real investment to develop the technology our Armed Forces need. This is defence delivering growth right across the country. 

These companies may be small, but they all have the potential to become billion-pound FTSE 100 firms.

Director of The Good Growth Foundation (GGF) Praful Nargund said: 

Our research shows that to build a defence settlement that lasts, the public needs to see the benefits of defence spending brought home to the UK. Pounds spent on defence must do double duty, protecting both our national security and our economic security. 

Today’s announcements are a step towards bringing defence home: backing the British Innovators who will build our sovereign capability, keep the returns here, and create the defence industry Britain needs for a more dangerous world. 

SMEs have the potential to be the heart of innovation in Britain, and it is only by backing SMEs that you build the domestic supply chain resilience that sovereign capability depends upon. Yet too often they are locked out of defence contracts, and defence investment flows overseas rather than building resilience in Britain. By backing our innovators, giving them the contacts and capitals to grow, we can create the conditions to build Britain’s next defence unicorn.

Chris Isaac CEO and Founder, SpaceAM said:  

Game changer! In just five weeks.. six new staff, our first commercial labs operational, top London VCs lining up to invest, and the ability to scale at pace with confidence. That’s what this Unicorn Fund has delivered.

Phil Bottomley, CEO, Avenue3 said:

As an SME, this level of investment is transformative. It allows us to grow sustainably, create high-value jobs, and continue delivering complex engineering programmes at pace. It’s a strong signal of the role that smaller, specialist companies like Avenue3 can play in supporting national priorities while driving local economic growth.

The winning companies span a wide range of cutting-edge capability areas, from quantum sensing and autonomous systems to secure communications, space manufacturing and synthetic training. Together they represent the breadth and depth of British defence innovation – from established businesses scaling up to newer firms entering the sector for the first time. 

The thirteen contracts are with: 

• The RC Den Ltd (London) 
• Aquark Technologies Ltd (Hampshire) 
• Aether Aerospace Ltd (Newport, Wales) 
• SpaceAM Ltd (London) 
• Avenue 3 Ltd (West Yorkshire) 
• Nereus Medical Ltd (Devon) 
• Kraken Technology Group (Hampshire) 
• Flowcopter Ltd (Edinburgh) 
• Helyx Secure Information Systems Limited (Buckinghamshire) 
• EP90Group Ltd (Winfrith Newburgh, England) 
• Ritson Reid Ltd (Berkshire) 
• SimCentric Limited (Oxfordshire) 
• Spectra Group (UK) Ltd (London) 

The awards are part of the government’s commitment to make Britain the best place to start and grow a defence business. Backed by the MOD’s commitment to increase defence spending with small and medium-sized enterprises by 50% through to May 2028 – an additional £2.5 billion,  bringing total SME spend to £7.5 billion – the fund forms part of a wider package of reforms to open defence up to the next generation of British innovators. 

This Government is backing UK Armed Forces with the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War – hitting 2.6% of GDP from 2027. 

Commercial X, a specialist function within the UK Ministry of Defence designed to accelerate the procurement of digital technologies and ground-breaking innovations, led the search for winning companies, assessed applicants against the requirements of the UK Armed Forces across a range of technology and capability themes, including AI and machine learning, robotics and autonomy, and precision capabilities. 

The contracts provide winning companies with a foundation to attract further private investment, helping them scale rapidly and realise their full potential. The fund sits alongside the MOD’s new Office of Small Business Growth, which provides a single point of access for SMEs looking to work with defence, as well as the recently held Dragons’ Den-style event connecting defence innovators with private investors. 

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 18 May 2026.

• The Red Arrows will tour the United States this summer to support the UK’s closest ally as it celebrates 250 years of independence
• The iconic team will appear at 13 events across seven states this summer
• Royal Navy ships will attend celebrations in New Orleans and New York

The UK Armed Forces will visit the United States to mark 250 years of American independence with a series of high-profile celebrations across the US this summer.

At the heart of the celebrations, the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team – widely known as the Red Arrows – will lead the UK’s contribution with a showcase tour spanning one month.

Royal Navy ships will visit New Orleans later this month and attend the US Navy’s International Naval Review 250 in the port of New York and New Jersey in July.

The Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines will also travel to the United States to perform at the celebrations and celebrate the close military relationship.

Defence Minister Lord Coaker said:

I offer our sincere congratulations to the United States as it celebrates 250 years of independence. The defence relationship between our nations is built on unparalleled trust, professionalism and shared purpose.

British and American forces have served together with distinction for generations, and our alliance remains vital to the security of our countries and our allies around the world.

The Red Arrows will deliver a series of spectacular displays at 13 events across New York, Washington, Wisconsin, Maine, Maryland and Michigan between 27 June and 26 July, commemorating the anniversary.

On 4 July – Independence Day – the world-famous red jets will take part in a major international flypast over New York, performing in front of crowds expected to reach tens of thousands. Additional flypasts are set to be confirmed as part of the programme.

The visit will highlight and celebrate the enduring and close partnership between the United Kingdom and the United States – its strongest and closest security ally.

The Red Arrows will also appear at events across the United Kingdom before and after their visit to the USA.

Air Officer Commanding No. 1 Group, Air Vice-Marshal Mark Jackson, said:

We’re honoured to accept the US military’s invitation for the Red Arrows to participate in these special July 4 events in the country’s 250th year.

The Royal Air Force has a long, proud history of working side-by-side with the Armed Forces of the United States, whether that be on operations and exercises or by joining with other allies as part of NATO.

I hope the Red Arrows’ trademark combination of close formation flying, speed and world-class precision will excite and inspire the hundreds of thousands of people attending these shows.

Officer Commanding the Red Arrows Wing Commander Sasha Nash said:

The whole Red Arrows team are greatly looking forward to visiting the United States – the tour is a fantastic opportunity to display the best of British, at significant events and occasions marking the 250th anniversary, alongside friends, allies and international counterparts.

The UK-US alliance remains central to the UK’s NATO-first approach to defence. For more than a century, British and American forces have operated side-by-side in some of history’s most significant conflicts and security operations.

From the beaches of Normandy during the Second World War to joint operations in the Middle East and ongoing cooperation through NATO, this partnership has remained steadfast – playing a crucial role in maintaining global stability.

Today, the UK and the US continue to share one of the closest defence relationships in the world, underpinned by deep intelligence cooperation, integrated military planning, joint exercises, advanced defence technology collaboration and shared strategic objectives.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 17 May 2026.

British citizens and regional partners will be better protected against drone attacks as the Royal Air Force deploys a new low-cost anti-drone weapon on operations in the Middle East.

• UK deploys new low-cost missile system to defend UK citizens and partners in the Middle East from drone attacks.
• Ministry of Defence worked rapidly with industry to move from testing to deployment in months.
• Strengthens Typhoon fighter jets as backbone of UK combat air.

British citizens and regional partners will be better protected against drone attacks as the Royal Air Force deploys a new low-cost anti-drone weapon on operations in the Middle East.

The new Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) will be fitted to RAF Typhoon fighter jets so that they can destroy targets precisely and at a fraction of the price of missiles currently used.

Rapid procurement and testing work by the Ministry of Defence and industry partners BAE Systems and QinetiQ has enabled the system to move from testing to deployment on operations in less than two months.

March saw a successful test strike on a ground-based target, and RAF Typhoon pilots from 41 Test and Evaluation Squadron conducted successful air-to-air firing in April, demonstrating the system’s ability to defend against drone attacks.

The system has now been deployed on operations in the Middle East with sorties flown by 9 Squadron RAF Typhoon fighter jets as part of the missions to defend British people, interests and partners from threats.

Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard MP said:

This has been a superb effort working with industry to test and deploy this system in a matter of months, which will help the RAF shoot down many more drones at a much lower cost.

Our Typhoon fleet is the backbone of UK and NATO air defence, with the RAF protecting European’s Eastern flank from Russian drone incursions and defending our partners across the Middle East.

The APKWS uses a laser targeting system which turns unguided missiles into low-cost precision weapons able to take down enemy drones and other threats. Developing low-cost systems provides a more effective and sustainable means of countering the increasing threat of drones to UK forces and partners.

Simon Barnes, Group Managing Director BAE Systems Air sector, said:

Our priority is to ensure the Royal Air Force and its allies have the advanced technologies they need today and into the future, to keep them ahead of evolving threats. This capability demonstrates Typhoon’s exceptional versatility and underlines its continued role as the backbone of combat air across Europe and the Middle East.

Steve Wadey, Group Chief Executive Officer, QinetiQ, said:

From engineering expertise to live trials, our teams are providing the fundamental support needed by our armed forces, to deliver the urgent capabilities that ensure the UK and its allies remain safe and warfighting ready.

UK aircraft continue to operate across the Middle East and are ready to defend British people, interest and partners from threats. Pilots and aircrew have surpassed 2,500 flying hours since the conflict in the region began, equivalent to over three months of continuous flying on defensive missions.

Air Commodore Donal McGurk, Air 11 Group Deputy Director Operations:

We welcome the speed of development and meticulous testing behind the deployment of these missile systems for use on our Typhoons. They are a valuable addition to the air defence package we are already employing with agility across the Middle East.

UK ground-based and helicopter-based air defence assets are also deployed at very high readiness to support Gulf partners, including the Sky Sabre system in Saudi Arabia, the Lightweight Multirole Missile in Bahrain, and the Rapid Sentry and ORCUS systems in Kuwait.

Today’s news comes just weeks after the Ministry of Defence signed a multi-million-pound contract with to buy Skyhammer interceptor missiles for the UK Armed Forces designed to counter Shahed-style attack drones. In January, the Ministry of Defence committed over £650 million to upgrade the RAF’s Typhoon fighter jet fleet, securing over 1,500 jobs across the UK and ensuring the fleet will continue protecting British skies until at least the 2040s.

This Government is backing UK Armed Forces with the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War – hitting 2.6% of GDP from 2027.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 14 May 2026.

The Government is cracking down on waste and delays as defence companies are to be incentivised to deliver equipment on time and on budget with new reforms to Single Source Contract Regulations.

• New rules, announced today, mean suppliers can be paid more for completing projects to time and budget, while those who fail to deliver will receive less
• Incentive payments of up to 10% can reward suppliers who get equipment to our Armed Forces faster and more efficiently.
• Smaller and innovative businesses will find it easier to work with defence, bringing new ideas and technologies to the frontline sooner.

Defence companies will be incentivised to provide equipment to the Armed Forces faster and more efficiently but could earn less if they fail to deliver under a government crackdown on waste and delays.

Defence procurement will be sped up under the changes being introduced by Ministers in Parliament today, which will see the amount of profit companies can make from a contract being tied to delivering on time.

Through changes to the Single Source Contract Regulations (SSCRs), suppliers who deliver at pace, improve productivity and take on more risk will earn more, while those who do not could make less.

Every pound saved through better supplier performance is a pound that can be reinvested in equipping the Armed Forces.

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

To deliver the warfighting readiness our country requires, we need procurement that delivers on time and on budget. We inherited a programme where 96% of our major defence projects had issues with delivery or cost. That is not acceptable.

That’s why suppliers who deliver better outcomes and take on appropriate risk will be rewarded, but those who do not, will make less profit.

That is how we make sure we get more equipment to the front line faster.

These reforms deliver on commitments made in both the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) and the Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS), which said that with the promise to invest more comes a responsibility to invest better.

The reforms introduce four key changes:

• Maximum incentive payments for suppliers will increase from 2% to 10% of costs, but only when suppliers hit agreed performance targets, giving the MOD the ability to reward suppliers who get equipment into service faster.
• Profit floors on lower-risk contracts will be reduced, so suppliers could earn less unless they improve performance. The new rules will allow higher-risk contracts to attract stronger returns – motivating suppliers to take on the risk-bearing work the DIS specifically committed to encouraging.
• A new Innovation Uplift will reward suppliers, particularly smaller businesses and new entrants to defence, who invest their own money in developing new products without a guaranteed government contract.
• The threshold at which contracts come under the regulations will rise from £5 million to £25 million, meaning nearly all small and medium-sized enterprises will no longer have to comply with the mandatory reporting regulations, while keeping 97% of single-source contracting value within the model.

Today, the Government is laying a Statutory Instrument to increase available incentive payments. A further Statutory Instrument, covering the profit floor changes, the Innovation Uplift and the increased threshold, will be introduced prior to the Summer recess. We will be consulting on these changes in the coming weeks.

Rupert Pearce, National Armaments Director, said: 

The NAD Group is committed to driving greater performance across the defence enterprise. These changes give us better tools to reward innovation, incentivise delivery, and ensure that public money is spent where it generates real value. We will work closely with industry and the Single Source Regulations Office to implement them effectively.

The reforms have been developed after extensive discussions with industry and the Single Source Regulations Office and support the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group’s wider mission to accelerate procurement and ensure critical capabilities reach UK warfighters faster.