9 February - 15 February 2026
UK announces £500m+ air defence package for Ukraine
Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed a new air defence package worth over £500 million for Ukraine on 12 February while co-chairing the 33rd Ukraine Defence Contact Group at NATO headquarters in Brussels. The package includes £150 million for the NATO Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) — the UK's first contribution to this mechanism — plus a £390 million deal for 1,000 Lightweight Multirole Missiles manufactured by Thales in Belfast. Further deliveries of 1,200 air defence missiles and 200,000 artillery rounds will follow through the Air Defence Consortium.
Source: GOV.UK
POLICY & GOVERNMENT
UK spending over £400m on long-range weapons this year
The MOD confirmed on 13 February that spending on long-range precision and hypersonic weapons will exceed £400 million this financial year. Britain is leading the Stratus programme with France and Italy to develop a Storm Shadow replacement, sustaining 1,300 UK jobs. A new joint study phase with Germany on Deep Precision Strike is also beginning. Defence Secretary Healey discussed industrial cooperation at the Munich Security Conference.
Source: GOV.UK
Carrier Strike Group to deploy to North Atlantic under Operation Firecrest
Prime Minister Starmer confirmed on 14 February that HMS Prince of Wales will lead a Carrier Strike Group deployment to the North Atlantic and High North later this year. Operation Firecrest will operate under NATO's Arctic Sentry mission, with HMS Dragon serving as command ship for NATO's Standing Naval Maritime Group 1 throughout 2026. The MOD cited a 30% increase in Russian naval activity near UK waters over the past two years.
Source: GOV.UK
Commons debates Palantir contract amid transparency concerns
MPs debated the £240 million MOD contract awarded directly to Palantir in December 2025, questioning the lack of competition and links to former US ambassador Peter Mandelson. The three-year contract covers data analytics across defence operations. Minister for the Armed Forces Al Carns confirmed the contract was the Defence Secretary's decision alone, justified under a defence and security exemption.
Source: Hansard
CONTRACTS & AWARDS
£12m hypersonic missile contract awarded to Amentum UK
The MOD awarded a £12 million contract on 13 February to Warrington-based Amentum UK, supported by SME partners Ebeni and Synthetik, to accelerate sovereign hypersonic missile development. The contract was awarded 31 days after invitation to tender. Since July 2024, the programme has awarded 22 contracts worth £48 million total, with over 50% to SMEs. Target: weapons system demonstrator by end of decade.
Source: GOV.UK
INDUSTRY MOVES
Indian Air Force instructors to train RAF fast jet pilots at Valley
The UK and India agreed on 12 February to deploy three Indian Air Force Qualified Flying Instructors to RAF Valley for the first time, instructing on Hawk T2 or Texan T1 aircraft for two years. This marks all three British military academies now hosting Indian instructors. The announcement may help ease long-running bottlenecks in fast jet pilot throughput.
Source: GOV.UK
Defence Secretary visits Camp Viking, Norway
John Healey visited the UK's Arctic operations hub at Øverbygd on 11 February during Royal Marines training activities, confirming the UK is doubling troop numbers in Norway from 1,000 to 2,000 and will participate in NATO's Arctic Sentry mission.
Source: Royal Navy
PROCUREMENT PIPELINE
Project Nightfall deadline passed — development contracts expected March
The deadline for proposals under Project Nightfall passed on 9 February. Three industry teams are expected to receive £9 million development contracts in March, each tasked to deliver three missiles within 12 months for test firing. The ground-launched ballistic missile requirement calls for 500km+ range, 200kg warhead, and operation in high-EW environments.
Source: GOV.UK
INTERNATIONAL
Royal Marines conduct Arctic mortar drills ahead of Cold Response 26
Royal Marines conducted live 81mm mortar firing near Moen, over 200 miles inside the Arctic Circle, on 11 February. The drills form part of preparations for Exercise Cold Response 26 (9–19 March) — NATO's largest Arctic exercise this year, involving 25,000 troops from 14 nations. Exercise Lion Protector, led by the UK's Joint Expeditionary Force, will follow in September.
Source: Royal Navy