Tag: Ministry of Defence

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 16 October 2025.

Update to Statement on UK military activity in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Since the terrorist attacks against Israel of 7 October 2023, the UK government has been working with partners across the region to secure the release of hostages, including British nationals, who were kidnapped.   

In support of these efforts the Ministry of Defence conducted surveillance flights over the Eastern Mediterranean, including operating in air space over Israel and Gaza from December 2023. The surveillance aircraft were always unarmed, did not have a combat role, and were tasked solely to locate hostages. 

The UK government strictly controlled what information was passed on and only information relating to hostage rescue was passed to the relevant Israeli authorities.  

Following the agreement of the Gaza peace plan between Israel and Hamas, and the release of remaining hostages, the Ministry of Defence has ceased surveillance flights over Gaza. The last flight took place on the 10 October 2025. 

We thank our UK personnel for their dedication and professionalism.  

Defence Secretary, John Healey MP: 

This ceasefire is a moment of profound relief, for the civilian population of Gaza, for the Israeli hostages and their families, who have all endured unimaginable suffering.

I am proud of the UK’s efforts to support the safe return of the hostages, and the professionalism of our service personnel involved. 

The safe return of all hostages, along with the immediate restoration of aid are critical first steps in efforts to securing a lasting peace.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 15 October 2025.

The UK Defence Secretary, John Healey MP reiterates Government’s steadfast support for her family’s long and painful fight for justice.

The Defence Secretary John Healey MP today met the niece of the late Agnes Wanjiru, Esther Njoki. The meeting follows the Kenyan Director of Public Prosecution determining that a British National should face trial in relation to the murder of Ms Wanjiru, who was killed in Nanyuki in Kenya in 2012.

In April 2025, the Defence Secretary visited Kenya and became the first UK Government Minister to meet Agnes Wanjiru’s family, since her murder in 2012.

Today’s meeting is only the second between UK Government ministers and representatives of Agnes’s family. 

Defence Secretary, John Healey MP said:

Six months since our first meeting in Kenya, I was pleased to welcome the niece of the late Agnes Wanjiru, Esther Njoki to London today, to reiterate our Government’s steadfast support for her family’s long and painful fight for justice.

I want to pay tribute to Esther, who is an extraordinary spokesperson for her family, and for women who have suffered violence.

We reflected on the significant progress made in recent months, with the case file being handed to the Director of Public Prosecutions in April and a charging decision being made last month. Our Government will continue to do everything we can to support the Kenyan investigation, secure a resolution to this case and finally bring peace to Esther and her grieving family.

The niece of Agnes Wanjiru, Esther Njoki also made a statement after the meeting with the Defence Secretary:

The loss of my beloved aunt, Agnes Wanjiru, has left a permanent scar on my family. It wasn’t just the pain of losing her – it is the years of silence, frustration and trauma we’ve endured trying to get justice since.

Since my family last met with the Secretary of State, there has been a major development with a former British soldier having been charged with my aunt’s murder. This has given us a renewed sense of hope — but we are still far from achieving justice for Agnes. That’s why this meeting with the Secretary of State is crucial. We are urging him and the Government to do everything in their power to ensure the man arrested is extradited to Kenya and faces trial without further delay.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 14 October 2025.

More than 85,000 military drones have been delivered by the UK to Ukraine in just six months this year by accelerating production from British companies.

It comes as Defence Secretary John Healey confirms, for the first time, that £600 million has been invested by the UK this year to accelerate drone delivery for Ukraine’s Armed Forces, including tens of thousands of short-range first-person view (FPV) drones that are crucial to supporting Ukraine’s front line.  

These drones are being used for precision strikes, reconnaissance, and disrupting Russian activity behind the frontlines, countering Russia’s own attempts at massed drone tactics. 

The Defence Secretary will say to allies that we need to “ramp up drone production to outmatch Putin’s escalation” following increased drone strikes in Ukraine and dangerous incursions into Europe.  

National security is the foundation of this Government’s Plan for Change, and the UK is stepping up on Euro-Atlantic security, underpinned by the historic increase to defence spending to 2.6% of GDP from 2027.   

Last month in Kyiv, the Defence Secretary and his Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shmyhal signed a first-of-its-kind industrial partnership through which the UK is jointly developing an inceptor drone already been used by Ukraine to protect civilians and critical infrastructure from Russian drones.  

New data from the Ukrainian battlefield is now being implemented to help mass produce the Octopus interceptor, with a target to provide thousands of new-improved interceptor drones back into Ukraine each month. 

Defence Secretary, John Healey MP, said: 

Putin’s dangerous escalation in Ukraine and across Europe must be matched by ramping up our drone production and strengthening NATO’s air defences. 

The UK is stepping up our support to Ukraine by delivering over 85,000 drones in the last six months and signing new industrial partnerships to rapidly develop thousands of new interceptor drones to shoot down Putin’s attacks. This is growing jobs in both the UK and Ukraine. 

I am also extending the UK’s commitment to NATO’s Eastern Sentry air policing mission to the end of the year to continue to deter Putin from further testing the Alliance. 

The Defence Secretary will also attend a meeting of NATO’s Defence Ministers, where he is expected to confirm the extension of the Royal Air Force’s contribution to NATO’s Eastern Sentry mission to the end of 2025. British Typhoon fighter jets have been taking part in defensive flights over Polish airspace following dangerous Russian drone incursions. 

In total, the UK has spent £600 million this year on military drones for Ukraine – drawn from the record £4.5 billion commitment by the government this year to support Ukraine’s defence. This includes logistical drones for transporting equipment to the frontline, one-way attack drones, as well as surveillance and reconnaissance drones.  

Significant amounts of this spend is with UK companies, supporting hundreds of specialist jobs around the country from suppliers including Tekever, Windracers, and Malloy. 

The Drone Capability Coalition, which the UK co-leads with Latvia, is also using funding from a range of nations to procure advanced drone-interceptors to help Ukraine counter the threat of the Iranian-designed Shahed one-way attack drones.  

Interceptors are being tested on the battlefield right now, with the Drone Capability Coalition expected to award new contracts very soon to provide Ukraine with further kit, including around 35,000 new interceptor systems in the coming months. 

An upcoming deployment of British military counter-drone experts to Moldova will take place this month, where they will help scope requirements for Moldova’s armed forces in counter drone tactics.

Both the Prime Minister and Defence Secretary have been clear that the UK’s national security – the foundation of the Government’s Plan for Change – starts in Ukraine.

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

HMS Agamemnon, the sixth Astute Class submarine has successfully completed her first underwater dive.

HMS Agamemnon, the sixth Astute Class submarine, is another step closer to joining the UK’s in-service submarine fleet, following the successful completion of her first dive.  

Shortly after being commissioned in the presence of His Majesty the King, the dive took place over two days and saw the boat submerged in water in the safety of a dock at BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness, under the control of her Royal Navy crew. 

A trim dive is a key phase of a submarine’s testing and commissioning prior to her sailing for the first time and joining the in-service fleet. This consists of two activities: 

• Basin dive 
• Trim and inclining experiment 

The basin dive is where many on-board systems are tested, including the ballast tanks which ensure the boat can surface. The trim and inclining experiment is to confirm the centre of gravity of the submarine and is measured by naval architects in both surfaced and submerged conditions. 

To measure the centre of gravity of the submarine, 16 tonnes of lead weights are brought on board and moved side-to-side. This movement is also measured by hand using pendulums hung between decks, a method that has been used by naval architects since the 1700s. The results from this also calculate the precise weight and stability, showing how she will perform in-service. 

The trials were conducted by BAE Systems and the ship’s staff, and activity was monitored by SDA and Ministry of Defence naval architects and overseers. 

These are all key factors in her performance when she formally joins HMS Astute, HMS Ambush, HMS Artful, HMS Audacious and HMS Anson in service. 

HMS Agamemnon was officially named in April 2024 and launched in October 2024; she is 97 metres in length and has a displacement of 7,400 tonnes.  The Astute Class are the UK’s current attack submarines. They protect the UK’s nuclear deterrent from hostile activity and detection, whilst supporting global operations. They also contribute to protecting maritime task groups and providing global strategic intelligence and reconnaissance gathering. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

National Armaments Director, Rupert Pearce said:   

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

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

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:

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

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

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

Cabinet Secretary, Sir Chris Wormald, said:  

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

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

The National Armaments Director will be responsible for:  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Minister for the Armed Forces, Al Carns, said:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Commander Sam Stephens, Commanding Officer of HMS Lancaster said:

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

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

Wildcat pilot Lieutenant Guy Warry added:

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

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

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

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

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

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 10 October 2025.

Crucial missiles for Ukraine are months ahead of their delivery schedule, as the Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard, led a UK trade delegation visit to Kyiv.

• Hundreds of air defence missiles delivered five months early, with production creating UK jobs.
• Follows Ukraine’s largest drone producer investing £200m to build drones in Britain, creating 500 jobs.
• Comes as the UK leads trade delegation to Kyiv to increase military support for Ukraine.

The missiles, manufactured in Belfast are used to defend Ukraine’s airspace and have been delivered five months ahead of schedule under the UK gifting programme. The same weapons, known as Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM), have offered Ukraine protection against threats since Russia launched its illegal invasion in February 2022.

The announcement comes as Belfast based Thales moves to the next phase of work with their Ukrainian partners. The latest phase of a £1.6 billion deal signed earlier in the year will enable those battle winning missiles to be integrated further into Ukraine’s air defence system, in a significant step for Ukraine’s own sovereign capabilities.

The ongoing missile manufacturing work in the UK is directly creating 200 jobs as well as supporting a further 700 existing roles, driving economic growth and delivering on the Government’s Plan for Change.

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

The UK is stepping up our ironclad commitment to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia’s illegal invasion. This year alone we are spending £4.5 billion on military support for Ukraine, more than ever before.

It was an honour to lead this trade delegation to Kyiv, and to see so many other countries participating in the event. Driving industrial partnerships is essential so that we can learn from their expertise and together build the industrial base we need to defend the UK, deter our adversaries and support Ukraine.

Businesses from NATO countries attended Ukraine’s International Defence Industry Conference, demonstrating a united multinational industrial front with global allies and deepening industrial cooperation and military support in the face of Russia’s continued invasion.

Deeper international collaboration between companies of all sizes is critical to Ukraine’s long-term defence industrial resilience and bolstering its efforts in the war.

The industry forum saw hundreds of attendees come together to showcase the collective support for Ukraine. Trade missions between the UK and Ukraine have already resulted in more than 30 joint ventures and partnerships, leading to jobs, prosperity and reinforced security in both nations.

Kevin Craven, CEO of ADS said:

The UK’s defence industry stands united in our efforts to increase production capacity, develop innovative new capabilities, and build a resilient industrial ecosystem that endures against the most trying of circumstances. In what has been the most multinational trade mission to Kyiv of its kind, it has been an honour for industry to lead the UK in engaging both within Ukraine and with our Ukrainian counterparts.

This week has been a stark reminder of the need to increase our industrial support and capacity across Europe. As illegal Russian aggression continues to intensify, European nations must come together and deepen their support. Continued industrial collaboration, both with our government counterparts and international allies, remains the only way we can secure a safe and prosperous future for the people of Ukraine.

The partnership with Ukraine has resulted in major investment by Ukraine’s largest drone manufacturer into the UK, as Ukrspecsystems will invest £200 million in two new facilities in the UK, creating 500 high-skilled jobs and boosting economic growth. 

This week’s trade delegation visit follows a groundbreaking new technology sharing agreement, Programme LYRA, that will see UK will manufacture and jointly develop cutting-edge military equipment with Ukrainian industry, supporting hundreds of British jobs and strengthening both UK and Ukraine’s national security.

This agreement recently saw an industrial partnership between the UK and Ukraine to jointly develop an advanced new air defence interceptor drone, named Project OCTOPUS. It will lead to the UK mass producing thousands of drones per month to provide Ukraine support in its ongoing fight for freedom.

These interceptor drones are considerably cheaper than regular air defence missiles and are highly effective in countering the waves of one-way attack drones Russia continues to launch at Ukrainian cities. 

As part of the historic UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership, UK Defence Exports (UKDE) has created the ‘Working with Ukraine’s Defence Sector’ guide for SMEs. This first-of-its-kind resource provides comprehensive guidance on procurement pathways, coalition and donor mechanisms, partnership models, and contact points.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 2 October 2025.

New £320 million contract for a platform to revolutionise how the Armed Forces manage and maintain defence equipment to help the military make better decisions faster will create 100 new highly-skilled UK jobs.

The UK’s Armed Forces will be strengthened by a new cutting-edge platform that will revolutionise how the military manages and maintains its equipment, driving efficiency and creating more than 100 highly-skilled jobs.

The new platform will use artificial intelligence (AI) to help ensure Armed Forces have the right equipment in the right place at the right time, delivering on the ambitions of the Strategic Defence Review.

The £320 million contract with IBM UK for the Defence Equipment Engineering Asset Management Systems (DEEAMS) will create 100 new highly-skilled jobs in the UK, making defence an engine for growth and delivering on the Government’s Plan for Change.

The new system will replace 17 fragmented, siloed and outdated applications with one enabled modern streamlined platform, using AI to bring over £1 billion in benefits such as savings on support and IT costs. It will provide personnel with real-time information to predict maintenance and repairs, stock availability, and engineering planning across major equipment and platforms.

It will also enable the adoption of future productivity-enhancing technologies, making sure the UK’s Armed Forces stay at forefront of defence innovation and capability.

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

This is a major step forward in our commitment to ensuring our military has the very best equipment support available.

We are revolutionising how we provide our front-line personnel with the kit they need, when they need it, whether they’re operating at home or deployed overseas.

We are delivering on the Government’s Plan for Change with this £320 million investment, creating 100 new skilled jobs here in the UK and driving defence as an engine for growth.

This government is delivering the biggest transformation of UK defence in a generation to reshape how the military protects Britain against unprecedented global threats. This is backed with the largest sustained increase to defence spending since the Cold War, rising to 2.6% of GDP by 2027, with an ambition for hitting 3% in the next Parliament.

Serving over 65,000 users across more than 130 major military platforms and assets, the system will improve the quality and speed of military decision making, boost operational effectiveness, and support the resilience of digital networks.

Rahul Kalia, Managing Partner, IBM Consulting UKI, said:

IBM is proud to support the Ministry of Defence to deliver the transformational DEEAMS programme to enable a next generation, full-lifecycle asset management solution for the UK Armed Forces. Working with our ecosystem partners, we will deliver this mission-critical platform with predictive intelligence and real-time data driven insights to improve planning and support strategic decision making.

This investment follows the launch of the Defence Industrial Strategy and demonstrates defence’s commitment to supporting UK economic growth and maintaining Britain’s position at the forefront of technology innovation.

The project builds on the Strategic Defence Review’s recommendations for the UK Armed Forces to rapidly modernise and embrace the latest technology. Digital integration, data and digital systems are fundamental underpinnings of all modern military capabilities, making them more capable, resilient, and effective.

This contract represents defence’s ongoing commitment to digital transformation, ensuring our Armed Forces have warfighting capabilities with cutting-edge systems and innovative technologies that provide modern information systems and processes, streamlining support and enhancing operational effectiveness home and overseas.