To meet demands from industry, Cross Manufacturing is looking to expand AS9100 accreditation to all three of its manufacturing plants, increasing its capacity for the design and production of precision engineered high temperature metallic sealing rings, retaining rings, brush seals and machined components for aerospace and defence applications.

UK drone specialists Coptrz have joined forces with GeoCue to offer the complete TrueView LiDAR product range, from entry-level to engineering-grade solutions.

James Fisher Defence (JFD Global) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ST Engineering Marine to explore new opportunities for collaboration in Singapore and beyond.

QinetiQ today announced a five-year extension worth £205 million, with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), to continue to deliver mission critical engineering services for the Royal Air Force’s Typhoon aircraft.

The Deputy Prime Minister has tasked the Ministry of Justice to learn from Ukraine’s expertise, to harness their wartime innovation and tackle prison drones.

The US Navy has awarded BAE Systems a $62 million contract to begin a new capability in the current depot line at the Fleet Readiness Center Southwest in San Diego, California for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft interrogator system.

Specialist connector distributor Lane Electronics, will be presenting a range of electrical connectors and accessories at Southern Manufacturing & Electronics 2026, being held at the Farnborough International Exhibition Centre, 3rd–5th February 2026.

BAE Systems has received a $184 million (£136m) contract from the US Marine Corps for the production of 30 additional Amphibious Combat Vehicles (ACVs), a portion of the previously awarded full-rate production (FRP) Lot 5/6 contract.

The UK and Poland’s ability to shoot down air and missile threats will be strengthened by deepened cooperation between the two countries, following their agreement yesterday to explore the development and procurement of new capabilities to counter a range of air threats, as well as how to encourage the establishment of new manufacturing capacity in ...

Hirth Engines and ePropelled today announced a strategic collaboration aimed at delivering the next generation of hybrid propulsion solutions for the UAV, aerospace, defence and specialised mobility markets.

ODU Connectors will be displaying all of their current AMC (Advanced Military Connectors) at the Specialist Defence and Security Convention-UK (SDSC-UK), taking place 3rd-5th February at the NEC Birmingham, which will include a couple of new items aimed specifically at rugged, embedded systems in the military and aerospace market.

Rolls-Royce Submarines has donated £60,000 of specialist equipment as part of a wider partnership with Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service (DFRS), which includes a new joint training programme to bolster existing emergency arrangements around its Derby site.

Second Front Systems (2F) today announced its partnership with StirlingX, aimed at enabling the UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD), national security community and critical national infrastructure (CNI) operators, to rapidly adopt sovereign, high-assurance drone capabilities through a secure software deployment pathway.

The UK will develop new tactical ballistic missiles that boost Ukraine’s firepower to defend itself.

Serco is expanding its contract to deliver maritime warfare training services to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) at HMAS Watson, Sydney and HMAS Stirling, WA - Australia’s Naval warfare training establishments.

The Government has allocated £200 million of funding to prepare the UK Armed Forces to deploy as part of the Multinational Force for Ukraine (MNFU), announced by Defence Secretary John Healey during a visit to Ukraine.

His Majesty the King has approved the appointment of Major General (Maj Gen) Phil Prosser CBE as the next Chief of Defence Logistics and Support (CDLS), in the rank of Lieutenant General, from October 2026.

Peli Products has launched the Peli 9730 Remote Area Lighting System (RALS), a next-generation lighting solution combining power, safety and portability.

The Joint Aviation Command (JAC) has officially welcomed the Jupiter HC2 into service, marking a significant milestone in modernising the UK’s rotary wing capability.

Serco has reinforced its position in Asia Pacific with contract wins and extensions in the defence sector in Australia, including a successful rebid of the HMAS Watson Navy Synthetic Warfare Training contract for the Royal Australian Navy.

Babcock has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Frankenburg Technologies to explore the development of a new and affordable air defence system in response to the increase of one-way attack drones.

Cranfield University is continuing to help address national security engineering challenges through an ongoing collaboration with HMGCC (His Majesty’s Government Communications Centre) and its Co-Creation initiative: a partnership with Dstl (Defence Science and Technology Laboratory).

IFS today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Softeon, a provider of cloud-native Warehouse Management, Warehouse Execution and Distributed Order Management solutions.

Military artillery that can fire on the move and hit targets 70 kilometres away has been secured under a major £52 million contract between the UK and Germany.

A £2.5 million contract to develop a Deployed Clinical Record system to enable defence clinicians to access military medical records anywhere in the world - Project Mercury - has been awarded by the Defence Medical Services, to Leeds based digital health-care solutions consultancy Avenue3.

Thales has been awarded a Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) contract for the design, development and delivery of portable autonomous AI powered remote command centres, marking a significant advance in the transformation of the Royal Navy’s Mine Counter Measures (MCM) capability.

Chess Dynamics has been awarded a £1.4 million order from a major weapon system prime for a number of Hawkeye EOSS systems.

Babcock International Group is to lead a new STEM pilot in Plymouth as part of a major UK Government £182 million national skills drive.

BAE Systems has signed two contracts worth approximately $171 million for its Bofors 40mm and 57mm 3P (Pre-fragmented, Programmable, Proximity- fused) advanced ammunition, in a combined procurement from both the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) and the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command (FDF LOG COM).

Boeing Defence UK has been awarded a two-year and three-month contract extension, with option to extend by a further three months, worth £16.9 million to continue supporting the Gladiator synthetic training environment.

Saab UK has opened a new site in South West England dedicated to its Training & Simulation business unit. This expansion strengthens Saab’s ability to deliver advanced training solutions to the British Army.

Patria and Germany have concluded two procurement contracts within the Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) programme.

Eight Australian and UK universities have become the founding members of a new Advanced Skills Alliance, to fast-track the skills and research needed to build security, defence and resilience capabilities.

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) is leading a NATO research project called ‘Youth Perspective on Emerging and Disruptive Technologies’.

STS Defence has been awarded a contract to further develop and demonstrate software algorithms for the Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA), following on from a previous Phase 1 project investigating Sensor Channel Health Monitoring (SCHM).

Specialist provider of Facilities Management (FM) and foodservice to military establishments across the UK, ESS Defence, together with the Royal Navy, have won this year’s Institute for Collaborative Working Chairman’s Award.

Babcock has reached a landmark milestone in the Jackal 3 programme, as the first all-terrain vehicles - from the second tranche - roll off its production line in Devonport.

Three Midlands manufacturing and design specialists - outsourcing expert PP Control & Automation (PP C&A), electronics design and software developer ByteSnap Design and contract electronics manufacturer Kasdonare - have joined forces to launch VORS (Versatile Outsourcing in Resilient Systems).

Aviation Minister Keir Mather MP visited GE Aerospace’s Filton facility last week (Thursday 11th December) to see how UK-engineered artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are helping to transform aircraft engine inspection and reinforce Britain’s position as a global centre of advanced aviation services.

SEA has been awarded a multimillion-pound contract to supply its advanced KraitArray undersea sensing technology to Liquid Robotics, for integration into the company’s Wave Glider uncrewed surface vehicle (USV).

BAE Systems has received an $11 million contract from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to integrate the AN/APX-127(V)1 Combined Interrogator Transponder (CIT) on KF-21 Boramae aircraft.

Power solutions provider Cummins, has received a Gold Award from the UK Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS).

Tyron Runflat has invested in doubling its facility with the ambition of creating its first UK centre of excellence within the next five years.

Distributor of advanced electronics manufacturing equipment in the UK and Ireland, Altus Group, will return to Southern Manufacturing & Electronics from 3rd-5th February 2026 at the Farnborough International Exhibition Centre, to showcase a range of advanced process technologies from global suppliers.

The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded BAE Systems’ FAST Labs research, development and production organisation a $16 million Phase 2 contract for the Oversight programme.

Wallwork Group will be returning to Southern Manufacturing 2026 - being held 3rd–5th February 2026 at the Farnborough International Exhibition Centre - with a significantly expanded capability, showcasing the hard coatings, heat treatments and advanced thermal processing solutions they supply.

The UK's first licensed spaceport, Spaceport Cornwall, has commenced work on a groundbreaking project with the National Drone Hub to establish a unique testing environment for uncrewed aerial systems (UAS).

Hertford based ISTEC Services Ltd has secured a four-year contract for the supply of weapon mount spares across all three services via the Babcock Service Provision and Transformation Contract (SPTC).

Thales has introduced the prototype of Sonar 76Nano - a miniaturised acoustic detection system aimed at redefining maritime security for the UK, NATO and their allies - which will make its official public debut with the Royal Navy at a technology demonstrator on Wednesday (17th December).

The New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) has reached a landmark agreement with the UK Armed Forces to develop a groundbreaking new undergraduate degree in Autonomous Systems which will be set to welcome its first students in September 2026.

Excalibur, a 12-metre experimental uncrewed underwater vessel, has now been officially handed over to the Royal Navy.

Today, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) launched the new Military Intelligence Services (MIS), designed to ensure UK military intelligence is more efficient and better able to anticipate future threats.

The US Navy has awarded BAE Systems a new five-year, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract for APKWS laser-guidance kits to equip US armed forces with tens of thousands of additional low-cost precision munitions.

James Fisher (JFD Global) has secured a contract with PGZ Stocznia Wojenna, which will see JFD Global integrate a combined, hyperbaric and saturation diving system into the Polish Navy’s new salvage and rescue vessel, Ratownik.

Avon Protection has received a new European order for FM50 respirators and FM61EU filters via the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) contract vehicle.

BAE Systems has received a $123 million contract from the US Navy to modernise the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98).

Rheinmetall UK have been awarded a contract by the NATO Support & Procurement Agency (NSPA) to provide Trailblazer Driver Vision and Local Situation Awareness System to the UK Ministry of Defence’s M270 A2 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) platform upgrade.

Babcock has opened applications for its 2026 apprentice intake as it unveils the recruitment of a record number of graduates and apprentices across its UK business.

The UK has joined a European defence export treaty alongside its NATO allies, making it easier for British defence businesses to benefit from closer cooperation on exports with European allies France, Germany and Spain.

Another significant moment on the Type 31 (T31) programme was delivered by Babcock yesterday at its Rosyth facility in Scotland, with the keel laid for HMS Formidable.

GKN Aerospace today announced a new strategic teaming agreement with autonomous platform provider Anduril Industries UK to explore future opportunities at GKN Aerospace’s Isle of Wight airframe production facility, accelerating the development of advanced uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV) and rotorcraft technologies for UK defence programmes.

Today, HII and Babcock have signed a contract that expands their strategic partnership for further support of Virginia-class submarine construction, to increase throughput at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division.

AtkinsRéalis has been appointed to deliver nuclear propulsion and engineering capabilities to Rolls-Royce Submarines, supporting the UK’s growing submarines programme.

BAE Systems has been awarded a $36 million production contract from Lockheed Martin to deliver Multifunction Modular Mast (MMM) systems for integration onto US Navy submarines.

Babcock has unveiled ARMOR Force (Autonomous and Remote, Maritime Operational Response – Force), an architecture of disaggregated systems and platforms capable of independent operations and connected by advanced digital capabilities.

GeoPura has delivered a landmark demonstration of its resilient, zero-emission hydrogen energy technology at RAF Waddington, showcasing the capability of two Hydrogen Power Units (HPU-Ms) to provide robust, off-grid electrical power suitable for deployed, expeditionary and main-base resilience applications.

The UK has unveiled work on its groundbreaking Atlantic Bastion programme, which will make Britain more secure from Russian undersea threats in the North Atlantic, through a transformation of the Royal Navy and its submarine-hunting capabilities.

Defence and training support company MASS and its JCAST partners, have successfully delivered Joint Venture 2025 alongside the UK MoD’s Integrated Warfare Centre (IWC) - the capstone annual operational validation event ensuring the UK is prepared for war in Europe.

Cobham Satcom and Gatehouse Satcom today announced a strategic merger between Gatehouse Satcom and Cobham Satcom’s Network Division.

Rushmoor borough has today been awarded the prestigious honour of hosting the 2026 National Armed Forces Day celebrations.

Cambridge based Blighter has added a proprietary dynamic radar target tracker module to its integrator-friendly BlighterNexus AI-assisted multisensor connectivity & processing system.

Serco has been awarded a 25-year contract by SkyAlyne to support its Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) programme for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).

Babcock France has been awarded a contract to support the French Test Pilot school (EPNER) with an L-39 aircraft – the first for its fleet.

The traditional steel cutting ceremony was held at Navantia UK’s Appledore shipyard in North Devon yesterday, marking a significant achievement for the FSS programme that is driving a £100 million investment across Belfast and Appledore.

A cluster of British designed and built satellites has been successfully launched into low Earth orbit, providing defence, security and civil sectors with UK space-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to enhance the nation’s ability to protect against modern threats.

PLEXSYS has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BAE Systems OneArc on the opening day of I/ITSEC 2025 in Orlando, Florida.

As BAE Systems announces that applications for its 2026 apprenticeship intake are open, the company has reached a record achievement with more than 6,800 young people in training across its UK operations.

Digital Catapult has named five startups that will join its accelerator programme to improve industrial supply chain resilience in the defence industry and drive the practical application of deep tech innovation to equip the sector to be future ready.

The National Armaments Director (NAD) Group has appointed Jim Carter as permanent Director General for Commercial and Industry (C&I) following an external competition.

Advanced surface coating specialist Anotec has strengthened its compliance across aerospace and defence, by achieving JOSCAR accreditation.

Lane Electronics has introduced Cinch Fibreco generic D38999 (MIL-DTL-38999 series III) Fibre-Optic Connectors are now available from Lane Electronics

The US Army and BAE Systems have definitised a contract modification worth over $390 million to upgrade additional Bradley A4 Fighting Vehicles.

Bourton Group LLP has announced the appointment of Glenn Gooding as Associate Partner, to enhance the consultancy’s expertise in supporting UK defence and aerospace manufacturers with operational improvement, engineering excellence and capability development.

The UK and Indonesia have agreed a landmark £4 billion maritime deal that includes joint development of the Indonesian navy’s maritime capability, with Babcock chosen as the prime industrial partner for the new Maritime Partnership Programme (MPP).

GKN Aerospace has entered into a collaborative programme with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) to develop and demonstrate a flying uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) capability within the next 18 months.

Women in Defence UK has announced the winners of the 10th Anniversary Women in Defence UK Awards, held yesterday, celebrating a decade of honouring exceptional women, men, individuals and teams who contribute to the defence of the United Kingdom.

BAE Systems has been awarded a $22 million contract by the US Navy to produce missile canisters for the Mk 41 Vertical Launching Systems (VLS), with the total value potentially reaching $317 million.

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has contracted GRAHAM Building to deliver a £142.1 million programme of investment at Dreghorn Barracks, Glencorse Barracks and Colinton Road Reserve Centre.

The acquisition has been announced of Marshall Land Systems by Indigenous Canadian investment firm Flowing River Capital Partners.

Britain’s ground-breaking DragonFire laser has shot down high-speed drones in new trials, as a £316 million contract is awarded to MBDA to deliver new systems to the Royal Navy from 2027.

BAE Systems has been awarded a contract by the Danish Ministry of Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO) to deliver 44 additional CV90MkIIIC infantry fighting vehicles at a value of approximately $450 million including spares, support, logistics and training.

The UK’s Ajax armoured fighting vehicle programme has been recognised for excellence in project delivery at the Global Project Controls Expo Awards.

As it enters a new phase of growth and business expansion, Tyron Runflat is welcoming the latest addition to its team with the appointment of technically experienced Director, Dr Stuart Turner.

UK-based specialist in space domain awareness (SDA) and space intelligence, Spaceflux Ltd, has won all three major multimillion-pound, multiyear UK government contracts to provide advanced space surveillance and tracking (SST) data across multiple orbital regimes.

QinetiQ and Forcys have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen Australia’s sovereign capability in maritime assurance, ensuring undersea and autonomous systems are safe, reliable and ready for operation.

UK manufacturers using Artificial Intelligence (AI) are seeing tangible benefits, including a positive impact on productivity and increases in profitability, according to new research.

Multiple sites across the UK for new factories to make munitions and military explosives to boost the UK’s warfighting readiness have been identified as the government moves to the next phase of building the factories of the future.

Babcock France and Airbus Helicopters have been awarded a 10-year contract to provide in service support to the entire fleet of H145 of the Direction Générale de la Sécurité civile and the Gendarmerie nationale, helping to safeguard communities across France.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has completed its 'third lifetime' of full-scale fatigue (FSF) testing for the MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA).

Smith Myers and Trakka Systems have successfully integrated the Artemis Mobile Phone Detection & Location System (MPDLS) with the Trakka TM-100 Mapping System and TC line of EO/IR camera systems.

Konrad-Technologies UK Ltd (KT-UK) and RADX Technologies, Inc. (RADX) have entered a new partnership under which KT-UK will integrate solutions across the UK and EU.

Advanced cyber protections will be embedded into the digital systems that power everything from critical infrastructure to consumer electronics.