Defence Minister Al Carns informed MPs that the UK is accelerating drone manufacturing and reforming procurement to convey uncrewed methods into service quicker, following classes realized from Ukraine’s battlefield use of drones.
Responding to Conservative MP Paul Holmes, Carns mentioned his determination to go away the army was pushed by frustration on the gradual tempo of adaptation to fashionable warfare. “The teachings from Ukraine, significantly round uncrewed methods, weren’t being realized inside our army,” he informed the Commons. “Since then, the strategic defence evaluate has stepped in, with £4 billion for autonomous methods and a brand new defence uncrewed methods centre. Coaching, techniques, procedures, doctrine and ideas are all altering to inculcate uncrewed methods.”
Conservative MP Nick Timothy highlighted a brand new £200 million funding by Ukrainian drone maker Ukrspecsystems, which is constructing a manufacturing facility in Mildenhall to create 500 jobs. He urged the federal government to help such corporations going through excessive power prices and tax pressures. Carns mentioned the brand new “uncrewed centre of excellence” was coordinating efforts throughout authorities to make procurement extra accessible for small and medium-sized enterprises, including that Ukrspecsystems’ drones had been used “to very excessive impact” in Ukraine.
Holmes additionally pressed the minister to uphold a promised go to to Domo Tactical Communications, a drone producer in his constituency, and requested what share of UK army drones come from home producers. Carns confirmed the go to would go forward and mentioned that Britain had “elevated our manufacturing of drones for Ukraine—as much as 100,000 this 12 months alone—and we’re rising the procurement of drones into the British army by 1000’s.”
Labour MP Anna Dixon raised considerations about entry for smaller corporations, citing Radio Design, a Saltaire-based firm growing superior radio-frequency know-how for counter-drone methods. Carns replied that the federal government was prioritising industrial partnerships underneath the Strategic Defence Overview, which devotes its first 100 pages to trade engagement and SME inclusion.
“We procured 10,000 drones in 2024,” Carns mentioned, “and the determine has now gone as much as 100,000, that are going to Ukraine to help our ally in its struggle towards Russia.”