UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) has launched a competition to develop technologies that safely neutralize illegal drones around prisons and sensitive sites. The initiative, run on behalf of the Ministry of Justice and other security stakeholders, offers up to £1.85 million (excluding VAT) to fund solutions that act as a last line of defense against hostile drones. Two challenge areas focus on higher-readiness prototypes (TRL 7) and medium-readiness concepts (TRL 4-5), with projects expected to demonstrate operational viability. Submissions must address safety, legality, and scalability while avoiding high-collateral methods like kinetic interceptors. The competition closes on 31 March 2026, with selected projects beginning in early July 2026. Solutions must be deployable by small teams without specialist training and compatible with prison, urban, and critical infrastructure environments.
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Original source: https://www.gov.uk/
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/185-million-competition-launched-to-counter-illegal-uas-use-around-prisons-and-sensitive-sites
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