UK Ministry of Defence – Page 2

Aug- 2025 -

4 August

The Royal Navy is embracing Virtual Reality to train sailors guiding warships on operations worldwide. Shown here is LH Quinn conducting training within the virtual reality training simulator. Nine hi-tech bridge simulators – which accurately recreate both the bridge of present-day warships, but also the key waters and harbours they operate in – have been installed at sites in England and Scotland, led by the Navy’s warfare school at HMS Collingwood in Fareham. The £27m investment in partnership with Team Fisher, (a consortium of partners led by Capita which delivers shore-based training for the Royal Navy) and Metaverse VR, is intended to make learning navigation and running a bridge more realistic, better and potentially faster. Five simulator suites have been installed at HMS Collingwood: two large ‘full mission’ simulators with wrap-around digital display screens and virtual reality headsets, a smaller version with an LCD display and finally two small trainers – more akin to a video gaming set-up, but with the same features/accuracy as their full-size counterparts.

UK to Launch First-Ever Military Esports League in 2026

The UK Ministry of Defence has collaborated with the British Esports Federation to facilitate London’s first defense-focused esports tournament.

Jul- 2025 -

28 July

Air

Ethan M. Encarnacion

UK ‘Spy Balloons’ Fly as Constellation for First Time, Break Into Stratosphere

The UK Ministry of Defence has successfully flown a group of uncrewed surveillance balloons into the stratosphere.

24 July

Arms

Paratroopers have demonstrated the firepower that they could bring to bear during combat missions as the British Armys global response force. As the culmination of a course in support weapons skills, paratroopers staged a firepower demonstration on Salisbury Plain. A fast-moving scenario saw an advancing force of enemy armoured vehicles engaged and defeated with Javelin and NLAW anti-tank missiles, 81mm mortar, Grenade Machine Guns, Heavy Machine Guns and General Purpose Machine Guns. Paratroopers opened fire from both ground positions and while moving in RWMIK patrol vehicles. The five-week-long Support Weapons Cadres trained soldiers from Colchester-based 2nd and 3rd Battalions The Parachute Regiment to serve in their units specialist Machine gun, Mortar and Anti-tanks platoons. Soldiers were taught the practical skills to fire and maintain weapons in the field, and how to use firepower in different tactical scenarios.

Rojoef Manuel

British Soldiers at Risk of Brain Damage From Weapon Use

The UK Ministry of Defence has revealed that thousands of British soldiers are potentially suffering from brain damage due to their own weapon systems.

Jun- 2025 -

17 June

Europe

Concept of the Orpheus satellites. Photo: UK Ministry of Defence

Rojoef Manuel

British Defense Project Targets Space-Based Weather Monitoring

The UK has invested $6.9 million to reinforce its space-based weather monitoring capability for national defense.

17 June

Europe

Staff Writer With AFP

Fighter Jets, Refueling Aircraft, Frigate: UK Assets in Mideast

The UK is deploying extra fighter jets and other assets to the Middle East amid the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.

1 June

Europe

The troops conduct the drill movement in open order on parade with the colours, at the pass out parade in Army Foundation College (AFC) Harrogate. More than 400 marched onto the parade square to mark the successful completion of their Phase One training. The prestigious ceremony is the culmination of months of intensive training, nurturing and education that is tailored exclusively to junior soldiers. Their final exercise is an intense, seven-day battle camp encompassing all they have learnt during their time at AFC Harrogate. The 17 and 18-year-olds will now go on to complete their trade training before joining regiments across the UK. The College based at Uniacke Barracks in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, provides a unique combination of military basic training and vocational training. It has two intakes a year in March and September and runs two types of courses. A 49-week course (including eight weeks holiday) for those joining the infantry, Royal Armoured Corps/Household Cavalry, Royal Artillery and some Royal Logistic Corps roles. A 23-week course (including three weeks holiday) for those joining courses with longer Phase 2 training – these are Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Royal Engineers, Royal Signals, Adjutant General’s Corps, Royal Army Medical Corps, Army Air Corps and some Royal Logistic Corps roles. The military training syllabus teaches the Junior Soldiers the basics of soldiering, from how to look after their kit to how to safely handle and fire an assault rifle. They learn fieldcraft and take part in military exercises.

Staff Writer With AFP

UK to Restore ‘War-Fighting Readiness’ With New Defense Review

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Sunday he will "restore Britain's war-fighting readiness" as his government warned of "growing" Russian aggression ahead of a major defense strategy review.

May- 2025 -

30 May

Cyber

Joe Saballa

UK to Invest $1.3B in New Offensive Cyber Unit, AI-Driven Targeting Network

The UK is committing more than $1.3 billion to establish a new offensive cyber unit and develop an AI-enabled targeting network.

27 May

Europe

Joe Saballa

UK Military Conducts ‘Largest Ever’ Artificial Intelligence Trial

The UK military has completed its largest artificial intelligence experiment to date, testing how advanced algorithms could enhance battlefield operations across land, sea, and air.

13 May

Air