United Kingdom – Page 13 – The Defense Post

Jan- 2026 -

8 January

Arms

Image of the 'DragonFire' Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW), seen here undergoing trials at DSTL's (Defence Science and Technology Laboratory) range at Porton Down in Salisbury, UK.

QinetiQ Advances Royal Navy DragonFire Laser in $78M Deal

MBDA, the prime contractor of the Royal Navy’s DragonFire laser weapon, has awarded industry partner QinetiQ a $78-million contract to continue work on the system’s laser source.

7 January

Europe

Volodymyr Selenskyj (l-r), President of Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer, Prime Minister of Great Britain, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) commemorate the victims of the war on the Maidan in Kiev.

Staff Writer With AFP

Zelensky Hails ‘Substantive’ Declaration on Ukraine Security Guarantees

President Zelensky welcomed security guarantees for Ukraine put forward by allies, which would come into force in the event of a ceasefire.

5 January

Europe

A Trojan armoured vehicle, operated by Royal Engineers, pushes forward to breach enemy positions during a simulated exercise on Salisbury Plain. The full force of British Army firepower will be brought to bear on Salisbury Plain as rehearsals take place today for The Army Combined Power Demonstration. Invited guests have been treated to a ground shaking demonstration of what the UK can bring to a fight. The Army Combined Power Demonstration is designed to showcase the breadth of the Army's utility and demonstrate how the Army operates in an era of constant competition. Delivered by Field Army, it will promote the Army's purpose and showcase innovation. It focusses on demonstrating: Information Manoeuvre & Unconventional Warfare, War-fighting, Prototype Warfare, Enablement and an Interactive stand. The arrival of turreted AJAX will provide a focal point for the Prototype Warfare stand.

Rojoef Manuel

British Army Titan, Trojan Armored Vehicles to Receive Mid-Life Upgrade

The UK has announced an industry partnership to modernize the British Army’s Titan and Trojan armored engineer vehicles.

Dec- 2025 -

30 December

Drones - Latest News, Features & Expert Opinion

A Mine Countermeasures Command Center. Photo: Thales

Rojoef Manuel

Remote AI Hubs to Lead Royal Navy’s Autonomous Minehunting

Thales just bagged a $13.5 million contract with the UK Ministry of Defence to roll out next-gen remote command centers for the Royal Navy.

29 December

Arms

Image of the Remote-Controlled Howitzer 155mm (RCH 155) 52 calibre wheeled artillery system. Seen here at a military training area in Germany. The criticality of artillery fire has never been clearer. Automated artillery systems have packed a powerful punch on the battlefield in Ukraine, and RCH 155 will provide a modernised capability unparalleled in other artillery systems. RCH 155 delivers increased range and accuracy for artillery engagements, a high rate-of-fire of up to nine rounds-per-minute and possesses a powerful blend of tactical and operational mobility. Able to deliver multiple rounds onto a target simultaneously in a 360-degree arc at range, it also has a direct fire capability providing close range defence. As part of the Boxer family, it uses the common Boxer drive module, creating efficiencies in support through platform commonality and modularity, and improving interoperability.

Rojoef Manuel

UK, Germany Ink $70M Joint Deal for Mobile RCH 155 Artillery

The UK and Germany have signed a $70.1-million joint procurement contract for artillery that can fire while maneuvering and neutralize targets more than 70 kilometers away.

29 December

Europe

Inder Singh Bisht

UK Progresses in Homegrown Tactical Ballistic Missile Project

The UK Ministry of Defence is moving forward with a tactical ballistic missile development effort dubbed Nightfall.

29 December

Europe

Giulia Bernacchi

Dutch Navy Trains Against Swarm Threats in UK Exercise

The Dutch Navy has conducted live-fire drills off the UK coast to practice countering simulated swarm attacks during Exercise Sharpshooter.

29 December

Europe

Giulia Bernacchi

UK Armed Forces to Launch Paid Gap Year Scheme for Under-25s

The UK Armed Forces will introduce a “Gap Year” Foundation Scheme providing young people with a year of paid experience and training.

23 December

Air

Christine Casimiro

First Jupiter HC2 Enters Service With UK’s Joint Aviation Command

The UK’s Joint Aviation Command (JAC) has welcomed its first of six Jupiter HC2 helicopters — based on the Airbus H145 — into service, moving closer to supporting British forces overseas.

23 December

Air