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UNITED KINGDOM AND NATO
12 Jan 26. Britain aims to arm Ukraine with new shoot-and-scoot ballistic missile system. Standing in front of a blackened block of flats in Kyiv, Defence Secretary John Healey saw first-hand the devastation wrought by Russia’s arsenal of drones and ballistic missiles. With temperatures plunging to -20°C, Moscow has bombarded Ukrainian cities with waves of drones and missiles, targeting key infrastructure and cutting heat and light to thousands of homes. President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly asked for more long-range weaponry to hit back. American Tomahawks and German Taurus cruise missiles would help, but there is no sign they are coming. Built in Britain for use in Ukraine What is though, it has emerged, is a new British-built ballistic missile. The new ground-launched, tactical ballistic missile – part of what is being called Project Nightfall – will be one of the most ambitious missile programmes the UK has seen in decades. The MOD issued an initial contract notice for this new system back in early December, setting out what it wants it to be able to do, and when it wants it delivered. It was very specific, and, interestingly, it reflects a lot of the hard lessons learned from the war in Ukraine. The contract notice calls for a “cost-effective, tactical (>500km) ballistic missile system, capable of being safely ground-launched from a mobile platform in a high-threat tactical environment, navigating to and accurately striking a user-programmed fixed target coordinate”. So essentially what the MOD is after is a missile system on the back of a truck, that can drive onto the battlefield, fire at least two missiles – known as “effectors” – 300 miles into Russian lines, and then escape within 15 minutes.
Shoot, then scoot
This so-called shoot-and-scoot way of fighting reflects the way the battlefield in Ukraine has developed over the past four years. Anything that is stationary for any period runs a high chance of being seen and targeted by Russian counter-battery fire, attack drones or loitering munitions like the Lancet. The other core requirement of this new system is the ability to resist electronic warfare (EW). Russian forces are tactically poor in lots of areas, but EW is one of their strengths. The contract notice says the new system must be “resilient in a complex electromagnetic environment (EME), including within a GNSS contested/degraded environment, and resistant against targeted EW attack and spoofing”. Before Ukraine, electronic warfare was a rather exquisite, nice-to-have capability. Four years on, GPS denial and jamming are so common that having the ability to combat electronic attack is now a non-optional, baseline expectation.
Destructive capability
In terms of payload and performance, the MOD says Nightfall’s effector must be able to “carry a high-explosive payload of around 200kg over more than 500km on a ballistic trajectory at supersonic speeds, with some basic manoeuvrability”. Defence planners say Nightfall missiles must be able to strike targets within 10 minutes of launch. That implies that it could well be used to engage time-sensitive targets such as mobile headquarters, air defence systems or logistics nodes. Russia’s most effective and frequently used short-range ballistic missile is the Iskander-M. It routinely uses them to attack both military and civilian targets. Compared to the Iskander’s 480kg payload, Nightfall’s missiles will carry less punch, but like many Western weapons, there is an emphasis on precision over sheer explosive mass. The calculation is clear that accuracy and speed will be able to offset the British missile’s lower payload weight. In fact, the MOD contract notice also specifies how accurate the Nightfall missile must be. It says it should be able to operate in a “GNSS contested/degraded environment” and must be able to hit within 10 metres of a provided target coordinate 50% of the time. The MOD is stipulating that the Nightfall missile system also needs to be upgradeable, so that its range, in-flight manoeuvrability and on-board telemetry can all be improved over time. It also wants production to be scalable to at least 10 systems a month – another indicator that these will be going onto a highly attritional battlefield.
Going to Ukraine, but what about the UK?
So is the British military also going to get its hands on this missile system in the future? For now, ministers are saying this is a short-term project, purely for Ukraine. The real benefit for Britain will be the boost in missile expertise that this project brings. Following the announcement, Defence Readiness and Industry Minister Luke Pollard said Nightfall would “keep Ukraine in the fight and give Putin another thing to worry about”. In terms of timescale, the Government is planning to award three competing contracts, each worth £9m, by March. Each team will then be expected to design and build three missiles within the next 12 months for test-firing. (Source: forces.net)
16 Jan 26. Red tape to be slashed for British robotics and defence innovators.
Robotics and defence tech announced as the RIO’s 2 new priority areas.
- Outdated red tape blocking robotics and defence innovation will be cut under new priorities for the Regulatory Innovation Office
- £52m for new hubs to drive robotics adoption in British business – backing farming, healthcare and beyond
- Direct portal launched for businesses to report regulatory barriers holding back innovation and growth
Red tape holding back innovations like robots for inspecting wind turbines in stormy seas and autonomous vessels for patrolling British waters is to be curbed as part of a new drive to remove roadblocks to innovation. The Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO) has unveiled robotics and defence as new priorities that will make Britain safer and more productive. This builds on its mission to seek out and remove outdated rules which hold back the technologies that drive growth, to lift living standards and improve public services as part of our national renewal and the central mission of the government’s Modern Industrial Strategy. The RIO, which launched in October 2024, has already engaged with over 150 businesses and is working to unlock the potential of sectors worth over £100 billion across its initial priority sectors. For example, it worked with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to simplify the approval process for drone flights, helping companies like Apian cut their medical delivery time from 30 minutes by van to 2 minutes by drone. Robotics and defence tech are 2 areas where British companies are world-leaders. Firms like CMR Surgical are already using robots to reduce the need for invasive surgery, transforming patient care. But across these sectors, outdated and complex regulations can hold back innovation and slow the path to market. Many essential jobs also put workers at risk or take place in hard-to-reach locations – from inspecting offshore wind turbines to checking pipes in nuclear facilities. Robots can take on these tasks, keeping people safe while getting the job done faster. Currently, businesses developing robotic technologies must navigate different regulatory frameworks across multiple bodies. A company building autonomous inspection drones, for example, may need separate approvals for aviation, data protection, and sector-specific safety rules – a process that can take months and cost significant resources. The RIO will aim to streamline overlapping requirements to bring products to market safely, but more quickly, to improve lives and grow our economy. Autonomous technologies – such as self-operating sea vessels – can strengthen UK defence capabilities while reducing risks to military personnel. Many of these technologies also have civilian uses, from environmental monitoring to search and rescue.
Minister for Digital Economy, Liz Lloyd said: “British innovators shouldn’t be held back by needless red tape. We have world-leading robotics and defence tech firms, but regulations haven’t kept pace with their innovations. We’re updating the rules so they work for modern technologies, cutting the barriers that stop these firms from growing and competing globally.”
Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard MP said: “When we said we would make it easier for defence firms to innovate we meant it. By cutting red tape, we’re delivering on the Strategic Defence Review’s ambition to fast-track the military equipment our forces need. We want the UK to be one of the best places in the world to start and grow a defence business – making defence an engine for growth in every region and nation of the UK.”
Research suggests that wider adoption of robotics across just 7 sectors could add £150 billion to the UK economy. But many businesses – particularly smaller firms – don’t know where to start with adopting these technologies. Building on commitments in the Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan as part of the Modern Industrial Strategy, the government is launching a £52 million competition for around 5 new Robotics Adoption Hubs across the country. Many businesses can see the potential of robotics but need support to take the first step – whether that’s a small manufacturer looking to automate part of their production line, a farm wanting to explore new ways to monitor crops, or a hospital considering how robots could free up staff time. Run by universities, businesses, or public sector organisations selected through an Innovate UK competition launching in the coming weeks, these Hubs will give companies of all sizes access to expert advice, live demonstrations, and networking opportunities to help them take the first steps towards adopting robotics, and in turn help grow our economy and improve lives. Each Hub will receive at least £2m per year over 4 years, with additional funding available for ambitious bids. Hubs are expected to be operational from the second half of 2026.
Science Minister, Lord Vallance said: “From manufacturing to healthcare, robotics can help British businesses work smarter and grow faster. These Hubs will make sure companies of all sizes can access the support they need to embrace automation, wherever they are in the country.”
Businesses in both these sectors will also be able to raise regulatory barriers directly to RIO through a a new portal – helping the Office target the rules causing the most problems and unlock growth in robotics and defence technologies.
- The Regulatory Innovation Office has focused on 4 fast-growing areas of technology since it was established: engineering biology, space, artificial intelligence and digital in healthcare, and drones and other autonomous technology.
- Innovate UK is launching a competition in the coming weeks to identify organisations to run the Robotics Adoption Hubs.
- The Robotics Adoption Hubs was announced in the Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan in June 2025.
- The £150bn GVA figure is based on 2 reports:
– The UK RAS Landscape
– The economic impact of robotics and autonomous systems across UK sectors
Naomi Weir, Technology and Innovation Director, CBI, said: “The CBI welcomes RIO’s new front door for business and announcement of its new priority sectors. Developed in partnership with industry and technology experts, zeroing in on defence technology and robotics – which are strategically important areas for Industrial Strategy sectors – can really accelerate innovation and unlock growth. We look forward to working with RIO to help deliver on this ambition.” (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
12 Jan 26. BAE Systems is seeking to identify potential new UK-based suppliers within the treatments and testing space and has asked for support with initial market exploration. Due to programme requirements, it would be advantageous for suppliers to offer all of the following capabilities:
- Phosphating
- Anodising
- Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)
- Eddy Current Testing
Make UK Defence members with relevant experience, or those able to deliver a combination of these services, are encouraged to come forward to support this exploration activity.
Deadline: ASAP
If your organisation may be suitable, or you would like to be considered, please fill out this form.: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=5rXxzeLwcEeqV9_qMXlCS74NB7JLOKtEogeWrzzQ06ZUQUxZQ1o0OFlXOUFRTzFMRDI4RTk0MzlMSC4u&route=shorturl (Source: MakeUK Defence)
05 Jan 26. UK Space Agency Seeks Satellite Direct-to-Device Solutions for Delayed Emergency Services Network. The UK Space Agency (UKSA), acting on behalf of the Home Office’s Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP), has officially invited industry input to integrate satellite direct-to-device (D2D) technology into the national Emergency Services Network (ESN). The move aims to leverage Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations to eliminate terrestrial coverage gaps that have plagued the project for over a decade. The ESN is intended to replace the aging Airwave TETRA-based radio system with a modern 4G/5G platform provided by EE (BT Group). While terrestrial infrastructure covers most of the population, significant “not-spots” remain in rural and coastal areas. By utilizing D2D technology, the UKSA hopes to provide emergency personnel with seamless connectivity using standard smartphones, bypassing the need for specialized satellite handsets or external antennas. The integration focuses on Mission-Critical Messaging, SMS and location data in remote locations. Further, future-proofing for high-bandwidth video and voice-over-LTE via satellite as constellations mature. Providing a redundant backup to terrestrial cell towers during network outages or natural disasters will be a critical component of the project.
Key Contenders and Partnerships
Several major space players are positioned to support the ESN expansion:
- SpaceX (Starlink): Currently the most mature D2C provider. Notably, BT Group (EE’s parent company) signed a broadband agreement with Starlink in 2025, making them a front-runner for any ESN satellite extension.
- AST SpaceMobile: Partnered with Vodafone Group, AST expects to provide “intermittent nationwide” LEO service in 2026, with continuous service planned for later in the year as more BlueBird satellites are deployed.
- Eutelsat OneWeb: The UK-backed LEO operator is also developing D2D capabilities to complement its existing enterprise and government broadband offerings.
Regulatory and Program Milestones
The timing of the UKSA’s request for information coincides with Ofcom’s new regulatory framework, which came into force in late 2025. This framework allows Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to use their existing terrestrial spectrum for satellite-to-phone links, removing legal barriers for a 2026 commercial launch. However, the ESN project itself remains a “high-risk” endeavor. Originally slated for 2017, the full transition from Airwave is now not expected until December 2029, with total program costs estimated to exceed £11 bn.
Looking Ahead
The Home Office is currently finalizing a £1.11 bn framework for ESN-compliant end-user devices, which is expected to be awarded in summer 2026. These devices will likely be the first to feature the integrated satellite-terrestrial roaming capabilities currently being explored by the UKSA. (Source: Satnews)
EUROPE
15 Jan 26. French President Emmanuel Macron fired a warning shot to the country’s defense industry, saying France’s armed forces could turn to European suppliers if those can deliver equipment faster or more efficiently, as the country seeks to bolster its military. With global threats increasing, France needs to speed up its rearmament, the president told gathered military personnel in a New Year’s speech at Istres Air Base in southern France.
“To remain free, one must be feared. To be feared, one must be powerful,” Macron said. “And to be powerful in such brutal world, one must act faster and strike harder.”
Macron said Europe needs to develop very long-range strike capability in order to deter Russia, whose Oreskhnik intermediate-range missile puts European countries in range of an attack, and called for bolstering France’s military space assets as well as air defenses. France famously sticks to a policy of so-called strategic autonomy, buying most of its military kit from local suppliers such as Thales, Safran and Airbus. That has given the country one of Europe’s largest defense industries, but has also fostered skepticism among some partners that French calls for European strategic autonomy are in part self-serving, something Macron’s remarks may address. France’s Armed Forces Ministry made just over 80% of its supplier payments in 2023 to firms domiciled in France, official data show. Macron said he needs France’s defense industry to be more adaptable, and warned local defense firms not to consider the French armed forces as captive customers, “because we may seek European solutions if they are faster or more efficient.”
“I need defense manufacturers who also take a more clear-eyed view of the competition, and to whom I say, go faster, go stronger, mass produce, produce lighter, respond to demands,” Macron said. “I will always with our armed forces be at your side, but we also must be more European, and so we must be more European in our own purchases.”
The president repeated a goal for France to accelerate plans to reach a defense budget of €64bn ($74bn) in 2030 by three years, to reach that level of spending in 2027 already. Macron said a planned update of France’s military spending law will increase the budget for the 2026-2030 period by €36bn in a bid to speed up the country’s rearmament, including an additional €3.5bn for the defense budget as of 2026. Priorities will be to increase stocks of all types of ammunition, based on the experience from Ukraine and the Red Sea, as well as boost operational preparation of the armed forces. France will invest in early warning, combining space-based warning and a system of ground-based radars, and Macron said the effort will include the French-German Joint Early Warning for a European Lookout project.
“But we are building this early warning system for ourselves,” Macron said. “We are building a partnership with the Germans so that we can also offer it to all Europeans, and this is what will also allow us to further consolidate the space dimension of our military strategy.”
France will speed up the use of low-orbit satellite constellations for connectivity and for intelligence gathering, the president said. The goal is to work with Germany, Italy and others to reduce “dependencies on everything that is non-European.” Another area of investment will be “additional means of action” from the ground or in space to protect French space assets.
The additional budget will also allow to continue work on the European Long-range Strike Approach, with Macron saying the project to develop very long-range fires “takes on its full meaning” with Russia’s second use of the Oreskhnik intermediate-range ballistic missile in Ukraine.
“This message is clear, and for all those who think that Russia is not our concern, it must be received loud and clear: We are within range of these missiles,” Macron said.
“If we want to remain credible in this area as well, we Europeans, and particularly France, which has certain technologies at its disposal, must seize upon these new weapons, which will change the situation in the short term,” Macron said. “With our German and British partners in particular, we must move forward with determination on these deep-strike capabilities, capabilities that enhance our credibility and support our nuclear deterrence.”
Macron also called to accelerate production of the SAMP/T air-defense system, which he called more effective than the American Patriot system, saying increased production and deployment of the French-Italian system, including by other European countries, would strengthen strategic autonomy and reduce dependencies. France will further work on improving the capacity of the armed forces to commit to operations on short notice, including by providing the forces with additional anti-drone and electronic warfare capabilities. Macron said France’s military model must be modernized, particularly regarding drones for all three branches of of the armed forces, with French drone production falling behind that of some other European countries.
“We must move faster on this, because we have seen the capacity for innovation and acceleration on the Ukrainian battlefield, and let’s be clear, we are behind,” Macron said. “We are behind because the Ukrainians have innovated tremendously, because partners and manufacturers from other nations moved faster than we did, and perhaps treated them with less condescension.” (Source: Defense News)
12 Jan 26. Saab to parallelize production of its submarines to meet targets. Saab (SAABb.ST)will parallelize production at multiple manufacturing plants for its new A-26 submarines in order to meet delivery targets for three vessels Poland has decided to buy, the company’s CEO said on Monday. Poland said in November it had chosen Sweden’s Saab (SAABb.ST) to supply it with three submarines, in a multi-billion-dollar deal that forms a key element of Warsaw’s efforts to bolster its defences in the Baltic Sea. Poland said the first submarine would be delivered in 2030, but some analysts see it as a tight time frame. Sweden has also ordered two submarines
Saab CEO Micael Johansson said the company had taken investments to be able to produce sections of the new submarines in more than one location. “We will absolutely parallelize production to increase capacity,” he told Reuters on the sidelines of an annual security conference in Northern Sweden, adding that parts of the submarine would be manufactured at the plant in Landskrona.
Johansson also said maintenance, some upgrades and yearly controls would also be done at a shipyard in Poland. (Source: Reuters)
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Since 1946, Industrial Electronic Engineers, IEE, has specialized in the design, test, support and fielding of display products for use in demanding military and aerospace applications throughout the world. IEE has developed an extensive product portfolio that today includes enhanced flat panel displays, smart displays and handheld devices.
From rapid prototyping of custom designs to full-scale production runs, IEE, produces displays with advanced features like low-latency video processing, high-bright and NVIS backlighting, and lightweight rugged enclosures. Their SWaP-C products employ the latest lightweight composite materials; low power, high performance integrated ARM processors; standard Ethernet and USB communication, in a low cost, highly producible design.
In-house California facilities include optical bonding, clean rooms for display assembly, a dark room for optical measurements and environmental chambers for pre-compliance and customer acceptance testing. On-site manufacturing includes PCB assembly and flow soldering. IEE has manufactured handheld, in-vehicle, airborne and naval LCD displays for all military branches as well as leading aerospace firms both domestically and internationally.
IEE is ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D certified.
IEE’s Advantage:
- Direct control of critical process steps that reduce cost, decrease production lead times and improves life-cycle management
- Unique advantage to serve to both smaller quantity, highly custom displays needs as well as high volume production outputs
- Expert in delivering the best value in form and fit replacement by modifying existing COTS products to meet legacy requirements
- Leading the next generation avionics efficiencies by leveraging open architectures and common software standards
- Field-proven, pre-engineered displays minimize lead-time and non-recurring engineering costs.
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