The UK is offering more than 1 million pounds ($1.3 million) to support the development of early-stage technologies that could shape future autonomous military systems across land, sea, and air.
Launched by UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) on behalf of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory’s Autonomy Programme Incubator, the competition is seeking novel science and technology concepts at Technology Readiness Levels 1 and 2.
UKDI said it is particularly interested in concepts that could create new military capabilities, change how existing tasks are performed, or identify emerging threats that may require new countermeasures.
Proposals may include entirely new scientific approaches or technologies already used in other sectors but not yet applied to defense. High-risk or speculative research will also be considered, provided it has a basis in scientific theory.
Funding will be awarded through a two-stage process. The first stage has 600,000 pounds ($805,000) available, with individual proposals capped at 60,000 pounds ($80,500). Successful applicants will then be invited to submit detailed proposals for the second stage, which is expected to provide another 600,000 pounds.
Projects are expected to begin in November and run for no more than three months.
UK Calls for Defense Technology
The latest competition follows several UK funding calls aimed at accelerating defense technologies.
In February, UKDI launched a challenge seeking systems that could be fielded within a year, with priorities including sensors for counter-drone interceptors capable of tracking fast, low-flying threats and passive seekers for one-way attack drones that can resist countermeasures.
The initiative followed a 1-million-pound ($1.3 million) competition launched in December 2025 to develop autonomous sensor systems capable of detecting and countering deception in intelligence and surveillance operations.
