2 February - 8 February 2026
Armed Forces Bill grants new drone powers as incidents double at UK bases
The MOD confirmed 266 drone incidents near UK military sites in 2025, double the 126 recorded in 2024. Under the Armed Forces Bill, defence personnel will gain powers to defeat drones threatening sites without police assistance, extending to land and underwater platforms. The Government has quadrupled C-UAS spending to over £200 million this year. Restricted airspace now applies at 40 defence sites, with new guard drones, advanced CCTV, and integrated threat monitoring deployed. The Bill had its second reading on 26 January. For suppliers in counter-drone technology, the combination of new legal authority and sustained budget commitment signals an accelerating domestic market.
Source: GOV.UK
POLICY & GOVERNMENT
£80m skills package opens new BD route for universities and training providers
Defence Minister Luke Pollard announced an £80 million investment to expand defence-related university courses, the largest single element of the £182 million Defence Industrial Strategy skills package. The funding, confirmed at the University of Portsmouth on 5 February, will create around 2,400 new student places over six years (£50m) and upgrade teaching facilities (£30m). Engineering and computer science courses are the primary focus. A new Defence Universities Alliance will partner universities with the MOD and industry, with intent to join the Alliance a key factor in grant decisions. Applications open 10 February and close 20 March, with successful bidders confirmed in May for September 2026 starts.
Source: GOV.UK
CONTRACTS & AWARDS
Ultra Maritime secures £40m sonobuoy deal as ASW demand grows
The MOD awarded Ultra Maritime a £40 million contract on 3 February to supply sonobuoys for the Merlin Mk2 Maritime Patrol Helicopter fleet. The contract covers design, development, engineering, and manufacturing of sensors used for anti-submarine warfare. Ultra Maritime has expanded its London manufacturing site to support delivery and is developing miniaturised sonobuoys for uncrewed air systems, indicating follow-on opportunity in autonomous ASW.
Source: Naval Technology
Archer artillery support contract awarded to BAE Systems Bofors
A £4.8 million support contract for the Archer Artillery System was formally awarded to BAE Systems Bofors AB on 13 January, with notice published 5 February. The nine-month contract covers training, maintenance, repair, obsolescence, and configuration management for the Interim 155 Capability Project. The MOD stated only one offer was received and cited "absence of competition for technical reasons."
Source: UK Defence Journal
INDUSTRY MOVES
BAE Systems launches 'Launchpad' incubator to commercialise defence tech
BAE Systems unveiled Launchpad on 6 February, a technology incubator programme designed to spin out dual-use technologies into independent businesses. The first venture, Rho-C, commercialises submarine-derived technology for transmitting power and data through solid materials, with applications in energy and advanced manufacturing. BAE takes equity stakes in spinouts. Future opportunities include quantum clocks for radar and hyperspectral sensing. The programme aligns with the Defence Industrial Strategy's call for "constant innovation at wartime pace."
Source: ADS Advance
Babcock and ASELSAN team up on RAF electronic warfare training
Babcock International and Turkish defence electronics firm ASELSAN signed an MoU on 3 February to explore the RAF's requirement for a Surface Electronic Warfare Threat training system. The work falls under the Next Generation Operational Training programme, which aims to deliver realistic simulation of integrated air defence systems for aircrew preparation. This is early-stage — no timelines or system specifications have been released — but worth tracking if you're positioning for RAF simulation and synthetic training opportunities.
Source: UK Defence Journal
PROCUREMENT PIPELINE
Project Lily autonomous survey vessel cancelled
Defence Equipment and Support published a termination notice on 3 February confirming that Project Lily will not proceed. The decision was taken on 16 January. The programme had planned to acquire a single commercial off-the-shelf uncrewed surface vessel and Remote Operations Centre for £27.3 million over four years, supporting hydrographic and oceanographic operations. No explanation was provided and no indication given whether the requirement may be revisited.
Source: UK Defence Journal
Type 31 timeline language shifts as MOD adopts vaguer phrasing
In a recent Parliamentary written answer, the MOD stated that HMS Venturer is now scheduled to be "in service and ready for operations by the end of this decade," with all five Type 31 frigates expected in service by the early 2030s. The phrasing represents a shift from earlier ministerial answers which pointed to a 2027 readiness date for the first ship. No formal delay has been announced, but the change in language may signal schedule pressure at Rosyth. For suppliers tracking Type 31 opportunities, the timeline for Capability Insertion Periods — including potential Mk41 VLS fitting — may also be affected.
Source: UK Defence Journal
INTERNATIONAL
RAF deploys six F-35Bs to Cyprus as Iran tensions rise
Six F-35B Lightning aircraft departed RAF Marham on 6 February, arriving at RAF Akrotiri supported by Voyager tankers. The deployment strengthens UK air presence in the Eastern Mediterranean alongside 10 Typhoons already conducting Operation Shader missions. The Times reported the move is focused on defensive measures around the Sovereign Base Areas amid concerns about potential escalation between the US and Iran. Separately, four Typhoons from the joint UK-Qatar 12 Squadron deployed to Qatar at Doha's request. The F-35B lacks Meteor integration until the early 2030s, limiting its current strike capability but adding sensor fusion and air defence depth to regional posture.
Sources: UK Defence Journal, The Times (reporting by Larisa Brown, paywalled)
COMING UP
Project Nightfall deadline — 9 February. Proposals due for the rapid development competition to create ground-launched ballistic missiles with 500km+ range for Ukraine. Three teams expected to receive £9 million development contracts in March.
World Defense Show — 8–12 February, Riyadh. Third edition, with a UK Pavilion organised by ADS. Major B2B opportunities for exporters targeting the Gulf market.