Expect multiple, large-scale programmes for uncrewed systems from the UK MoD this year.

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) plans on launching a range of new uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) programmes this year to address the changing demands of warfare, depending on the results of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR), DSEI learnt.  

This aligns with the MoD’s wider mandate to accelerate the adoption of uncrewed systems, James Gavin, the head of Defence Equipment & Support’s (DE&S) Future Capability Innovation (FCI), told DSEI in March. 

As part of these efforts, the Royal Navy plans on scaling out its vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) experimental ‘Heavy Lift Challenge’ (HLC) into a formal programme of record, Gavin said. 

The HLC programme, supported by FCI, experimented with a variety of UAS's to assess the technology's ability to deliver supplies and equipment at sea. UK-based companies Malloy Aeronautics and Windracer Autonomous Systems contributed their uncrewed systems to the programme. 

The other frontline commands also intend to acquire heavy-lift UAS, which FCI will support, Gavin added. 

These programmes are, however, subject to contract and dependent on the SDR (which is expected in Spring), he acknowledged. 

Gavin further reiterated the importance and demand for uncrewed systems, pointing to the half a billion UK pounds allocated for Ukraine this year alone. “This amount could actually double next UK financial year, as we still need to continue arming Ukraine”.

“We think we'll see a continued need to experiment, explore and accelerate operations [with uncrewed systems], not just for Ukraine, but the MoD”.

Project Brakestop is an example of this effort, which is pioneering the development of one-way strike drones, Gavin said. Cheap critical mass is “very much the drive” for this project. 

Regarding one-way strike drones, the FCI, subject to the SDR, aims to undertake a large one-way strike drone programme to “really push some boundaries”. The programme, run on behalf of the army, will comprise many different projects covering various specifications and ranges. The UK supply chain will be central to this, Gavin explained. 

Depending on the army’s plans, FCI also intends to run a first-person view (FPV) drone competition through the Human Machine Teaming (HMT) commercial framework “to really build on what we've been buying for the Ukraine but focused on the British Army’s needs”. 

This is delayed until the beginning of the new financial year, however, due to resources and timing, he said, adding that the HMT framework opens to new suppliers roughly every six months. 

Hypersonics is also an area of interest for the FCI, although, this is subject to the SDR, Gavin concluded.