Tag: Ministry of Defence

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 16 October 2026.

UK and Germany deepen defence-industrial cooperation at Lancaster House talks, building on the Trinity House Agreement and Kensington Treaty.

UK and Germany strengthened defence-industrial cooperation at the latest talks at Lancaster House.
The talks build on the Trinity House Agreement and Kensington Treaty, reinforcing cooperation between the two nations across air, land, sea and space.
Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard and German counterpart State Secretary Jens Plötner joined industry leaders to discuss industrial priorities for collaboration.
UK-German work on key industrial collaboration and new technology was advanced yesterday as Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard hosted his German counterpart, State Secretary for Armament and Innovation Jens Plötner, at Lancaster House in London.

The latest UK-Germany Ministerial Group on Equipment and Capability Cooperation (MECC) meeting brought together senior officials and military leaders from both nations to review progress on joint defence capability programmes and to deepen the industrial partnership between the UK and Germany, two of NATO’s leading defence powers.

Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard MP said:
Germany is one of our closest and most valued defence partners, and today’s talks demonstrate our determination to turn that ambition into real capability for our armed forces and real opportunity for our defence industries.

As threats to our shared security evolve, the UK and Germany are standing together, strengthening our forces, our industrial bases and our resilience in lockstep.

Discussions built on the Trinity House Agreement, signed in October 2024, which set out an ambitious programme of bilateral cooperation across air, land, maritime, cyber and space domains. The agreement sits under the wider Kensington Treaty, signed in July 2025, which provides the strategic framework for the UK-Germany relationship.

Among the flagship programmes on the agenda was Deep Precision Strike, a joint UK-Germany initiative to develop long-range strike capability, reflecting the shared ambition of both nations to address critical capability gaps and strengthen NATO’s deterrence.

The talks follow the Prime Minister’s visit to Berlin on 8 October, during which the UK and Germany agreed to deepen cooperation on space and to establish a new UK-Germany Counter-Hybrid Partnership, strengthening joint resilience against grey-zone threats.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 9 October 2026.

British jobs and skills will be boosted by a £370 million deal as Kuwait buys vital air defence systems from a UK-based business.

• £370 million deal to strengthen Kuwait’s defences will create 100 UK jobs.
• British-built air defence systems to protect the Gulf state.
• Deal delivers on UK promise to back Gulf allies against regional threats.

The contract with MARSS Systems Limited, an EOS company, will create 100 new jobs in the UK, supporting skilled engineering and manufacturing roles.

MARSS will provide and integrate an advanced air defence system for Kuwait, incorporating jammers, radars and interceptors with its NiDAR platform, an AI-enabled command and control centre, to enhance the country’s ability to detect, deter and defeat airborne threats.

The deal is set to expand MARSS’s offices in the UK, with production based in Bristol, demonstrating how defence investment can deliver good growth in every postcode by creating jobs and opportunity across the UK.

The deal forms part of the UK’s Taskforce Sabre, which brings together government and industry to help Gulf states rapidly secure the systems and weapons they need. This follows Iran’s aggressive missile and drone attacks in the region.

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

This deal is a clear demonstration of the UK delivering on its promise to support our regional partners.

By backing Kuwait with world-leading British technology, we’re not just strengthening a vital ally’s defences against real and growing threats. We’re creating skilled jobs here at home and proving that UK industry can deliver when it matters most.

CEO of MARSS, Johannes Pinl, said:

Countering drones and aerial threats is not about any single system, it is about an intelligent, layered architecture that detects, decides and defeats within seconds, and MARSS has built exactly that.

Through 2027, MARSS will integrate the sensors and effectors that protect Kuwait’s people, critical infrastructure and national assets, backed by British engineering and new skilled jobs here in the UK.

The UK has already supported Kuwait with Rapid Sentry, a ground-based air defence missile system. The RAF’s ORCUS system is also operating in the country, helping personnel detect drones early and take decisive action.

This latest deal builds on existing support, cementing the UK’s role as a trusted defence partner to Kuwait and the wider Gulf region.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 2 October 2026.

Defence Ministers of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) and Allies met at Keflavik Air Base, Iceland, today (02 October) to advance the JEF’s role as a key pillar of European and Euro-Atlantic security.

Defence Ministers of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) and Allies met at Keflavik Air Base, Iceland, today (02 October) to advance the JEF’s role as a key pillar of European and Euro-Atlantic security. Following guidance from Leaders at the Helsinki Summit in March, Ministers agreed upon further action across the JEF’s key priorities.

1. Reinforcing steadfast support to Ukraine through ambitious delivery of the JEF-Ukraine Enhanced Partnership.

The JEF Nations remain steadfast in their support for Ukraine. In 2025, the JEF-Ukraine Enhanced Partnership was established to deepen cooperation and strengthen collective security. Today, Defence Minister Khamara virtually joined JEF counterparts to mark the successful ongoing delivery of that Partnership. This year, for the first time, Ukraine participated in the JEF’s flagship Lion Protector exercise, with Ukrainian mine countermeasure vessels operating alongside JEF forces to strengthen interoperability, enabling the JEF to benefit from Ukraine’s unrivalled operational experience of modern warfare. Defence Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the Partnership and agreed to deepen Ukraine’s involvement in JEF activities.

2. To further leverage the JEF’s specific geographical focus and collective expertise in operating in the Arctic, High North, North Atlantic and Baltic Sea regions to strengthen NATO’s northern flank

Defence Ministers reaffirmed that the Baltic Sea region, the High North, and the North Atlantic remain the JEF’s core and interconnected area of strategic interest. Joined by Canadian Defence Minister McGuinty, Ministers discussed opportunities to deepen cooperation between the JEF and Canada, noted Canada’s application to join the Framework, and advanced work towards a shared recommendation to JEF Leaders on Canadian membership.

Ministers also agreed the JEF’s overarching policy direction and a common framework for structuring engagement with partners.

3. To further increase the JEF’s deterrence and peacetime activity.

Defence Ministers received an update on the Lion Protector series, conducted across Iceland and Norway this autumn, and welcomed its synchronisation with the UK’s Carrier Strike Group. Ministers reviewed the JEF’s five-year programme of activity and welcomed continued efforts to strengthen coherence with NATO, including work to align JEF response options with NATO regional plans.

Ministers discussed Russia’s hybrid activity against JEF nations and other NATO Allies and agreed to continue developing common approaches through JEF mechanisms. Despite Russia’s unacceptable acts of sabotage against JEF Nations and other Allies, they are resolved to improving our individual and collective preparedness to defend against these threats and will not be deterred from supporting Ukraine. Ministers reiterate that JEF nations do not seek confrontation and pose no threat to Russia, but Russia should be in no doubt that we will defend ourselves.  

Ministers also reviewed progress on defence industrial cooperation following two meetings of JEF National Armaments Directors since the Ankara Summit. They welcomed the pace of work to identify practical opportunities for collaboration and the importance of delivering tangible outcomes. Ministers reaffirmed the need for collaboration in reinforcing interoperability, advancing capability innovation, and strengthening shared industrial resilience. Ministers looked forward to receiving concrete proposals ahead of their next meeting. The Single Services continue to deepen military engagement within the JEF, including through work on the Northern Navies concept, in support of the JEF’s five-year exercise plan.

Finally, Ministers reaffirmed the JEF’s vital contribution to a stronger Europe within a stronger NATO. They highlighted the JEF’s unique role below the threshold of Article V, delivering agile and credible responses to emerging challenges while complementing NATO’s deterrence and defence posture. Ministers directed further work to demonstrate the JEF’s contribution to Euro-Atlantic security and ensure the Framework continues to meet the evolving needs of our collective security.

Ministers thanked Iceland for hosting the next JEF Leaders’ Summit in Reykjavik next spring.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 25 September 2026.

UK and Euro-Atlantic security will soon be boosted, as the Royal Navy’s sixth powerful attack submarine departs from Barrow-in-Furness.

• Latest Astute Class submarine, HMS Agamemnon has sailed from the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness.
• She will now undergo sea trials – a major step towards delivering the highly capable attack submarine to bolster security for the UK and the Euro-Atlantic.
• The UK’s submarine industrial base is benefitting from £6 billion of Government investment over the Spending Review period and sustains thousands of jobs.

The newest Royal Navy conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarine, HMS Agamemnon and nicknamed ‘Awesome Aggie’, will now begin sea trials – a period of testing ahead of joining active service with the Royal Navy. 

The Astute Class are the largest, most advanced and most powerful attack submarines ever operated by the Royal Navy. Weighing 7,400 tonnes and at 97 metres long, they are just short of the length of two Olympic swimming pools. Powered by a Rolls-Royce Submarines nuclear reactor, produced in Derby in the Midlands, the submarine will not need to refuel for the duration of her service life. 

The submarine’s high-tech capabilities include stealthy precision strike, anti-submarine warfare, and intelligence gathering. HMS Agamemnon will be armed with heavyweight Spearfish torpedoes and Tomahawk IV land attack missiles, able to strike targets at a range of more than 1,000 miles. 

Alongside their role supporting the continuous at sea deterrent, Astute-class submarines are also involved in protecting maritime task groups and providing support to UK, NATO and coalition operations.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said:

Having seen first-hand the dedication and pride of the workforce in Barrow, and that of the thousands of people who work across our submarine supply chain in the United Kingdom, I know how much this milestone will mean to each and every one of them.

As one of the most advanced submarines ever built, HMS Agamemnon will play a major role in further boosting our security here at home and across NATO.

Defence Secretary, Wes Streeting MP said:

Deterrence is the bedrock of our national security. Another formidable attack submarine going to sea strengthens that deterrence and demonstrates how we are stepping up to meet the threats of a more dangerous world.

I’ve been on board HMS Agamemnon and met her submariners and the skilled workers who delivered this incredible feat of engineering. It’s a powerful reminder of how strengthening our defence creates good jobs, opens up opportunity, and reindustrialises our country.

HMS Agamemnon’s departure from Barrow-in-Furness is the result of years of work by a highly skilled workforce. This includes the engineers, technicians and specialists at BAE Systems and the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE), together with the ship’s company who will take her into service. Their combined expertise reflects the depth of skill sustained in Barrow and across the UK’s submarine enterprise. 

Maddy McTernan, Chief of Defence Nuclear, said: 

HMS Agamemnon’s departure is a significant moment for the UK’s Defence Nuclear Enterprise and is a clear demonstration of the engineering and industrial excellence of the Barrow workforce and across the wider UK supply chain.  

Submarine production will continue to boost British industry for decades to come backed by the commitments announced in the recent Defence Investment Plan.

Royal Navy First Sea Lord, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, said: 

In an increasingly dangerous world, sea power remains fundamental to keeping our country and people safe. Our submarine fleet is essential to that effort, which is why I am delighted that HMS Agamemnon, the sixth of our Astute-class submarines, has now begun sea trials and will soon arrive at HMNB Clyde to join the fleet. 

She embodies the best of British engineering and the professionalism of our submariners and will be one of the most advanced submarines ever operated by the Royal Navy.  

As we continue to strengthen our warfighting readiness, HMS Agamemnon will play a central role in keeping the United Kingdom safe, contributing to NATO’s collective defence and ensuring we are ready to lead, fight and win.

Building on commitments to continuous submarine production made in the 2025 Strategic Defence Review, and reinforced in the Defence Investment Plan (DIP), the completion of HMS Agamemnon demonstrates the strength and reliability of British industry and its world-leading nuclear technology.

The DIP is backed by £298 billion over the next four years, including £47 billion for investment in our submarine build programmes, which also covers maintenance and infrastructure. Part of that spend will enable the UK to produce a submarine every 18 months in support of the SSN-AUKUS programme. 

Recognising Barrow’s role as a strategic national asset, DNE spending is fuelling substantial growth and expansion in the town. The economic certainty from the government’s commitment to the submarine building programme underpins the 10-year Plan for Barrow, backed by the £200 million Barrow Transformation Fund. More than 14,000 roles in Barrow-in-Furness are supported by defence nuclear work, with 1,800 additional roles created in Barrow under this government. 

HMS Agamemnon has been delivered as part of a national endeavour by the MOD’s DNE, the partnership organisations that operate, maintain, renew and sustain the UK’s nuclear deterrent. The DNE supports over 47,000 jobs across the UK, including thousands of highly-skilled roles involved in submarine production. 

Marking entry into the Royal Navy, HMS Agamemnon was formally commissioned by His Majesty the King in a ceremony on 22 September 2025. She is the sixth Navy vessel to bear the name. 

The seventh and final submarine in the class, Achilles, is at an advanced stage of construction in Barrow. The Astute Class will be succeeded by up to 12 new SSN-AUKUS nuclear-powered attack submarines from the late 2030s, with steel due to be cut for the first-in-class in Barrow next year, continuing the town’s role at the heart of AUKUS delivery.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 16 September 2026.

British soldiers will receive new Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) drones, giving them better sight of the battlefield and greater protection against emerging threats in conflict.

• British soldiers will be better protected and gain greater intelligence on the battlefield with new ‘spy’ drones. 
• Up to £400 million investment in long-endurance surveillance drones and more than one thousand smaller drones unveiled as part of separate £16 million deal. 
• Part of government’s commitment to the Army’s next generation of uncrewed aerial systems highlighted in the Defence Investment Plan. 

They range from small, easy-to-use drones that give soldiers real-time awareness on the frontline, to larger aircraft that give commanders detailed intelligence over longer distances and periods of time. 

A new contact, worth up to £400 million, has today been awarded to Tekever to bring their AR5 drone into service. The AR5 is a long-endurance surveillance drone that can carry up to 50kg of cameras and sensors, replacing the ageing Watchkeeper system which has been used since 2014.  

Meanwhile, more than 1,025 small drones are being delivered as part of a £16 million deal with three UK-based small and medium-sized companies with deliveries nearing completion.  

Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard MP unveiled the news at this year’s Defence Vehicle Dynamics event – the UK’s biennial land warfare exhibition. 

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

Our soldiers deserve the best technology, and that’s what we’re delivering. From small drones giving troops eyes on the enemy, to the AR5 offering commanders better intelligence over the battlefield, we’re transforming the Army’s ability to see, understand and act first.  

This is defence procurement that backs British industry, creates skilled jobs and keeps our Armed Forces ahead of our adversaries.

Both programmes are creating jobs in the UK. The Tekever contract will help support more than 1,000 highly skilled jobs by 2030 across the company’s UK sites in locations including Bristol, Swindon, Lydd, London, Southampton, Edinburgh, and at West Wales Airport. The small drone deal has created more than 30 new roles so far, with 18 already filled in Hampshire, Surrey, Exeter, including several veterans. 

This builds on the government’s commitment to backing business and British industry, creating new jobs and delivering growth in every postcode. 

The small drones being delivered include: 

• 245 FOXE-NATO drones from Evolve Dynamics, based in Hampshire. These weigh less than 250g and include infrared cameras for use at night. 
• 670 Skydio X10 INTL drones from Marlborough Communications Limited in Surrey. These can be ready to fly in under a minute and reach speeds of up to 45mph. 
• 110 SONORA drones from a partnership between Brigantes Consulting (based in Exeter) and Harmattan AI. These are designed to help train soldiers before they use similar drones in real operations. 

The Tekever AR5 deal starts with an initial order of six drones, rising to up to 24 by 2029. The drones will be built at a new Tekever factory in Swindon and have already been used by Ukraine against Russia. 

Tekever UK’s Managing Director Karl Brew said: 

We are proud to be delivering the AR5 to the British Army at this critical moment for national security. This investment allows us to grow our UK operations, create hundreds of skilled jobs and bring cutting-edge surveillance technology, proven on the battlefield in Ukraine, into service with British forces.

The small drone deal was delivered by the UK National Armaments Director Group. It forms part of Project Rapstone, the Army’s programme to bring new technology to soldiers faster, with a goal of doubling the Army’s fighting power by 2027 and getting new equipment from industry to the front line within 24 months. 

The Defence Investment Plan commits new investment in the Army’s long-range surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, including the next generation of uncrewed aerial systems to replace legacy Watchkeeper drones. 

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 24 August 2026.

Defence Secretary visits Devonport Naval Base to see some of the latest equipment used by the Royal Marines and UK Commando Force.

• Defence Secretary Wes Streeting’s visits HMNB Devonport to see Navy innovation in action.
• Devonport is the largest naval base in Western Europe and pivotal to UK and NATO security.
• £7 billion investment in HMNB Devonport part of the largest naval infrastructure programme since the end of the Cold War.

Billions of pounds of investment is supporting skilled jobs and driving modernisation of the UK’s maritime forces, as the Defence Secretary saw firsthand during his visit to HMNB Devonport. 

Accompanied by Luke Pollard, MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport and Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, the visit highlighted the unique and vital capabilities based at Western Europe’s largest naval base.

Plymouth is home to Royal Marines and UK Commando Forces and will become home to the Royal Navy’s new Type 26 frigates, cementing its position at the centre of the UK’s naval power for decades to come.

Devonport is the only facility in the UK responsible for the deep maintenance and defueling of the Royal Navy’s nuclear submarine fleet. Its maintenance work underpins the UK’s continuous at-sea deterrent by keeping the submarine fleet available and operational, while its defueling capability supports the decommissioning of older submarines at the end of their service life.

During the visit, the Defence Secretary met Royal Navy personnel and industry partners who deliver the engineering, maintenance and support that keeps the Royal Navy’s fleet operational and saw the facilities under construction that will support submarines in the years ahead.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting MP, said:

The work done here at Devonport is critical to keeping our country safe. From our Commando Forces ready to deploy at a moment’s notice, to our Navy personnel and industry who maintain our submarines – Plymouth is a city where defence runs in the blood.

As we bring the Type 26 fleet to Devonport in the coming years, we’re investing in this base and our forces, ensuring it will remain at the heart of our naval power for generations to come, and continuing to push the frontier of defence innovation.

Around £500 million was committed as part of the Defence Investment Plan to continue the transformation of the UK Commando Forces, including equipping personnel with new high-speed boats and the latest drone and autonomous technology.

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

Devonport is the beating heart of Plymouth, and it was fantastic to welcome the Secretary of State here today to see for himself what our Commando Forces, submariners, and dockyard workers do for our national security.

This is a base with a proud history and an even brighter future. The Type 26 fleet and the continued investment in our submarine capability means Devonport will remain vital to the defence of this country, and vital to jobs and skills here in Plymouth.

As one of the Royal Navy’s three main naval bases, Devonport is set to be a major beneficiary of Royal Oak, a £26 billion ten-year programme to modernise UK naval infrastructure, confirmed as part of the Government’s Defence Investment Plan and the largest such programme since the end of the Cold War.

Royal Oak includes £7.1 billion to deliver major upgrades and new infrastructure across the Naval Base and Dockyard. The investment will bolster Devonport as a warfighting-ready facility, directly improving Royal Navy readiness, availability and lethality, while supporting thousands of skilled jobs in the Southwest of England.

£50 million defence investment is being put into Plymouth and the South West, making it easier for defence businesses to innovate, creating skilled jobs in the region and boosting UK national security through the Plymouth Growth Deal.

It will help create hundreds of new jobs and increase investment in the region. The investment reinforces Plymouth as a leader in maritime autonomy, developing the technology that helps keep the UK safe at sea. Plymouth was named the UK’s National Centre for Marine Autonomy, recognising the city’s growing role in developing autonomous maritime technology alongside the Royal Navy and industry partners, including work supporting the Navy’s Hybrid Navy programme.

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

UK weapons and ammunition manufacturing jobs rose 51% in 2024/25, part of a wider 26,000 increase in defence-supported roles nationwide.

• Jobs supported by defence expenditure in weapons and ammunition manufacturing rose by 51% in 2024/25.  
• Overall year-on-year increase of 26,000 UK industry roles, including nearly 4,000 direct additional jobs in the North West, as investment reaches every corner of the country.  
• Part of government’s work to rebuild the nation’s homegrown munitions manufacturing capability, boosting defence readiness and the re-industrialisation of Britain.

Thousands more people across the UK are working in weapons and ammunition manufacturing, with new figures showing a 51% rise in defence-supported jobs in the sector in just 12 months.  

The Ministry of Defence’s employment estimates, which cover the 2024/25 financial year, point to jobs boosts across the country backed by MOD expenditure, with the North West seeing nearly 4,000 additional roles year-on-year and the South East benefitting from more than 3,000 extra jobs over the same time period.  

The figures show that UK defence now comprises 462,000 roles across the Armed Forces, industry, and the Civil Service. They demonstrate how the Government is making defence an engine for growth, with increased investment creating jobs and opportunities in communities across the country to raise living standards and put more money in working people’s pockets.    

The 2,000 additional jobs, reaching 5,900 total, related to the manufacture of weapons, ammunition and military fighting vehicles also reflects the government’s drive to rebuild a sovereign, “always on” pipeline of munitions supply, so that critical capabilities, such as artillery and missiles, can be produced at greater scale in the UK.  

Building this domestic capability is central to strengthening the UK’s warfighting readiness and deterring threats while creating skilled manufacturing jobs.  

Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard MP said:

These figures show that a rising defence budget is creating more good jobs across the UK. Defence is an engine for growth and our investments are driving reindustrialisation. As we increase our military readiness and capabilities we are generating good well-paid jobs nationwide.

The rise in weapons and ammunition jobs forms part of a wider picture of expansion in defence-related employment across the UK, which has seen a year-on-year increase of 26,000 roles, spanning both direct roles in manufacturing and indirect jobs in the wider supply chain. The increase underlines defence as an engine for growth and the move towards a resilient industrial base, proving that investment in the UK’s security is investment in the UK’s prosperity.  

The news follows recent announcement of an £8.4 billion commitment to advance the UK’s next generation nuclear submarines, in a boost for the 47,000 jobs and over 6,000 suppliers across the UK supported by the Defence Nuclear Enterprise.  

The growth in defence-supported roles is set to accelerate further under the Defence Investment Plan, which commits £298 billion to UK defence over the next four years. The plan will drive sustained investment in British industry, from munitions and shipbuilding to advanced technology, ensuring the UK’s defence sector remains a cornerstone of the country’s economic renewal.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 12 August 2026.

The UK and Australia are boosting cooperation on radar technology, as Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard MP kicks off a visit to Indo-Pacific partners this week.

• New signing will see UK and Australian firms work together on cutting-edge radar systems, boosting growth across both countries’ defence industries.
• Work to build on UK-Australia defence partnership, already supporting tens of thousands of jobs in both countries through AUKUS. 
• Comes as Minister Luke Pollard kicks off a visit to Australia and New Zealand to strengthen defence and industrial partnerships. 

The statement of intent involving QinetiQ and CEA Technologies, signed today in Canberra, will see both UK and Australian governments and industry work together on advanced radar systems, known as Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technology. 

The work builds on the Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN) agreement reached in June and will strengthen supply chains and open export opportunities for both nations’ defence industries. This advanced technology is supplied to the Australian Armed Forces and allows the UK Armed Forces to keep pace with the evolving operational environment.

At CEA Technologies, Minister Pollard and Australian Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy welcomed the agreement and met with staff advancing radar technology.

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

This radar agreement shows what our partnership with Australia delivers in practice: industry stepping up, technology for our Armed Forces, and trust between our nations deepening. 

Working in lockstep with Australia we can drive jobs and growth while reinforcing our collective security.

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

QinetiQ’s unique expertise positions us as a strategic and trusted partner to the UK MOD and its allies. Current conflicts remind us of the importance of air defences which are increasingly under pressure and QinetiQ is proud to play a key role in bringing this vital technology to the UK. 

The signing forms part of a week-long visit by Minister Pollard to Australia and New Zealand, reinforcing the UK’s commitment to two of its closest defence partners in the Indo-Pacific. 

In Canberra, the Minister also met the Minister for Resources, Madeleine King, to strengthen UK-Australia cooperation on critical minerals, and the interim National Armaments Director, Nadine Williams, to advance shared defence capability and industrial collaboration. 

In Western Australia, Minister Pollard will visit Henderson Shipyard, where investment linked to AUKUS – the trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States – is already supporting skills development and industrial uplift. AUKUS is expected to create more than 10,000 jobs in Western Australia, with a further 10,000 in South Australia. 

Recent supply-chain initiatives are also generating work for 39 Australian companies, while Australian personnel are embedded across UK defence and industry organisations, supporting the delivery of the AUKUS partnership. 

AUKUS is also delivering for the UK, with more than 3,000 new jobs already created across key UK nuclear sites since July 2024. SSN-AUKUS submarine construction, expected to create more than 7,000 new jobs across the UK supply chain, helping to drive growth in every postcode in the UK. 

The Minister will travel to New Zealand later this week, where he will visit Devonport Naval Base in Auckland and meet defence industry leaders to discuss opportunities for closer cooperation on maritime capability. A prospective UK-New Zealand maritime partnership, including Babcock’s Type 31 Frigate offer, could deliver up to 1,000 jobs and NZ£300 million of investment into the New Zealand economy, as well as opportunities for UK industry.

The visit will also include further engagements with Australian and New Zealand government ministers and stops at defence industry sites, including Rocket Lab and SYOS Aerospace. 

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 8 August 2026.

Royal Navy warships and helicopters spent 21 days on operations monitoring Russian activity in UK waters and the North Atlantic throughout July.

• Maritime operations to monitor Russian activity up 25% across the first seven months of the year.
• Royal Navy have deployed four warships and naval helicopters to protect UK waters during 21 days of intense operations.

Royal Navy warships and helicopters spent 21 days on operations monitoring Russian activity in UK waters and the North Atlantic throughout July – a 25% increase in the last year, new figures released today show.

HMS Somerset, HMS Tyne, HMS Mersey, and HMS Severn were all dispatched, alongside Wildcat helicopters from 815 Naval Air Squadron and Merlin submarine hunting aircraft, to report on the movements of warships and submarines throughout July.

Russian frigate RFN Neustrashimy has repeatedly transited the UK’s area of responsibility to escort shadow fleet tankers within recognised traffic lanes, using up valuable operational capacity to constantly guard cargo.

Overall, Royal Navy activations to monitor Russian activity is up 25% across the first seven months of the year compared to 2025. It comes after the UK interdicted a sanctioned shadow fleet oil tanker, Smyrtos, in the English Channel in June.

The UK is a leader in tackling the shadow fleet, having already sanctioned more than 500 vessels, and Russia’s oil and gas revenues falling by 24% year-on-year in 2025.

By disrupting the shadow fleet, the UK and international partners are directly bearing down on the resources sustaining Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and reducing its capacity to threaten security across Europe and beyond.

Portsmouth-based HMS Tyne was on duty when Neustrashimy carried out gunnery firings outside of UK and French territorial waters on July 20.

HMS Tyne moved to five nautical miles as the Russian warship fired her armaments, continuing to gather intelligence during the incident, observing the fall of shots fired from her weaponry, including around 20 different shots from main 100mm armament and 30mm battery.

Lieutenant Commander Sam Fields, Commanding Officer of HMS Tyne said:

Through sustained presence and close cooperation with allies, HMS Tyne was ideally suited to this task, providing reassurance and monitoring while enabling other Fleet units to continue their operational commitments.

For Type 23 frigate, HMS Somerset, her tasking was part of her four-month deployment monitoring surface and sub-surface activity in the North Atlantic, contributing to the UK’s standing operation to protect Britain’s nuclear deterrent and monitoring potential submarine activity.

The Plymouth-based warship – deployed with a powerful array of underwater sensors and with its embarked Merlin anti-submarine warfare helicopter from 814 Naval Air Squadron – returned home yesterday (Friday, 7 August) having sailed more than 24,000 nautical miles across the North Atlantic.

HMS Somerset’s Commanding Officer, Commander Matt Millyard said:

This deployment demonstrates exactly what the Royal Navy exists to do, protect the UK and our allies from wherever our interests are threatened.

I am immensely proud of every single member of the ship’s company for what we have achieved over the past four months. Whether it’s tracking submarines, working alongside NATO allies and the Carrier Strike Group, or maintaining the ship at exceptionally high readiness for so long, their professionalism and spirit has been outstanding.

It is fantastic to bring the ship home after a highly successful deployment and reunite with our families.

Meanwhile, HMS Severn was twice activated in July to monitor Russian warships, shadowing RFN Admiral Grigorovich as the frigate sailed eastwards from the island of Ushant on the French coast to Dover.

Following that, the patrol ship was dispatched on a three-day mission (July 23-26) to intercept and shadow Neustrashimy, taking over monitoring duties in the North Sea from HMS Mersey.

Severn kept watch as Neustrashimy escorted shadow fleet tanker MV Vulkan from the Baltic, through the Dover Strait and towards Ushant.

Severn and Mersey then handed over again as Neustrashimy made a westward voyage towards Dover once she had completed escorting the Vulkan.

Lieutenant Commander Dom Jacobs, Executive Officer in Temporary Command of HMS Severn, said:

I’m really proud of my ship’s company’s ability to adapt quickly to changes of tasking from Fleet Ready Escort to our training output as the Fleet Navigation Training Ship.

This shows the versatility of my crew and the other OPVs to deliver a range of tasks demonstrating our continued relevance and operational value.