JET Connectivity joins NATO DIANA Mission Track programme

Above: (left to right) James Thomas – CEO and Founder, JET Connectivity, Alex Baker – MP for Aldershot and Farnborough and Dave Happy MBE, Non-Executive Director, JET Connectivity.
Courtesy JET Connectivity

The company, based in Farnborough, Hampshire, has been chosen from more than 3,600 applicants who applied to the first phase of the accelerator programme in January this year. They will receive funding and a further commitment of support from the international DIANA programme and its delivery partners.

Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard MP said: “This is fantastic recognition of British innovation at its best. This is exactly the kind of cutting-edge capability that NATO needs and I’m proud to see a British company leading the way. The UK’s commitment to defence innovation is unwavering. JET Connectivity’s achievement demonstrates British technology is at the forefront of keeping our Alliance safe.”

James Thomas, company founder and CEO of JET Connectivity said: “JET Connectivity has surged forward in capability thanks, in no small part, to the support from the VTT Dual-Use Launchpad in Finland and the funding, mentoring and networking provided through NATO’s DIANA programme.”

Alex Baker MP, Member of Parliament for Aldershot and Farnborough, Member of the Defence Select Committee, Chair of APPG Nepal said: “What an achievement for Farnborough based JET Connectivity to be chosen as one of just five companies from more than 3,600 applicants, especially as the only UK Sovereign supplier chosen. Farnborough has always played a vital role in our country’s security. JET’s success continues that proud local story, while showing why we must back UK dual-use technology businesses to scale, compete and strengthen our national security.”

JET’s CCO, Nicolas Calvelo Santos said: “Visiting Finland to engage with the 5G/ 6G test centre and working with mentors across NATO and the FDF has propelled our roadmap development and use case validation. Our advanced communications platform is now seen as a pivotal ingredient to add to NATO’s partners capabilities – we’d encourage other ambitious companies to explore the challenges and see if they could have something to offer.”

The DIANA programme provides a number of opportunities, including access to the Rapid Adoption Service, a procurement mechanism which cuts red tape for NATO nations to buy emerging technologies and a key enabler for rapid innovation.

NATO DIANA Manager Jyoti Hirani-Driver, said: “NATO DIANA’s Mission Track is where innovation moves from promise to capability, helping innovators go the extra mile towards adoption. The five companies selected for Mission Track have demonstrated outstanding potential with their groundbreaking defence tech and reaching this stage is a significant achievement. We are excited to see what they do next.” 

JET will demonstrate their technology at the DIANA demo days taking place in the UK on 11th June and at Eurosatory in Paris, 15th-16th June.