The British Army is making a bold leap into the future of warfare, and it’s happening fast. In a move that underscores the rapid evolution of drone technology, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a £256,080 contract with Viking Arms Ltd to deliver a cutting-edge fleet of First-Person View (FPV) drones. But here’s the kicker, this isn’t some years-long procurement plan bogged down by bureaucracy. The entire project is set to run for just 19 days, from 12 to 31 March 2025.
Why the rush? Because battlefield realities are changing, and the British Army is determined to keep pace. Drawing key lessons from the war in Ukraine, where FPV drones have proven to be cheap, flexible, and lethal, the Army is now prioritising drone strike capabilities. The contract feeds directly into the Field Army’s broader initiative to develop a basic FPV drone capability, one of the ‘First 6’ directives identified by Director RAPSTONE to support the Chief of the General Staff’s ambitious ‘Any/Any Network’ vision.
This vision, first outlined at the RUSI Land Warfare Conference, paints a picture of a digitally integrated battlefield where any sensor can direct any effector. In simple terms, it’s about creating an interconnected warfighting system that allows British forces to outmanoeuvre and defeat opponents up to three times their size by 2030.
What’s in the Drone Fleet?
The procurement package includes 60 units of three different sizes, 5-inch, 8-inch, and 10-inch quadcopter-style drones, along with goggles, controllers, antennas, and other mission-critical accessories. The focus? Modularity, ease of use, and rapid deployment. These aren’t just reconnaissance tools; they’re being trained to simulate real battlefield roles, including anti-tank, anti-personnel, and anti-structure payloads.
The new fleet will be used to train a specialised group of drone pilots, with instructors receiving on-site familiarisation training. These instructors already have experience operating military drones, meaning the learning curve should be short. The MoD has emphasised that these systems need to be ‘organic and rapidly deployable’, giving troops a tactical advantage in both day and night operations.
Why This Matters
The urgency behind this procurement signals a crucial shift in British military strategy. Drone warfare is no longer just an emerging trend, it’s already redefining combat. The war in Ukraine has demonstrated how FPV drones, operated at low cost and with minimal infrastructure, can wreak havoc on enemy forces. Now, the British Army is ensuring its personnel are prepared to integrate similar tactics into their own operations.
With just weeks to get this fleet operational, the pressure is on. But one thing is clear: the future battlefield belongs to those who can adapt the fastest, and the British Army isn’t wasting any time.
