Uk Government Revamps Defence Rules To Keep Pace With Autonomous Systems Threat

The Regulatory Landscape for Uncrewed and Autonomous Systems in Defence: A Review of the Current State and Future Directions

The Defence Industrial Strategy has recognized the need for an update to the regulatory environment in defence, with a focus on ensuring that it is fit for purpose in the current era of threat. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has committed to reviewing the regulatory system governing uncrewed and autonomous systems, with the aim of creating a more permissive and simple framework that enables fast delivery, scalability, and innovation.

The review will focus on the safety-related and operational regulations that apply across the key stages involved in bringing uncrewed and autonomous systems into service, including development, testing, manufacture, integration, and deployment. This will include consideration of counter-uncrewed systems and counter-autonomy technologies.

To inform the review, the MOD is launching a call for evidence, which invites stakeholders from the defence sector and adjacent industries to submit inputs and examples that can help shape the regulatory framework. The call for evidence is open until 13 March 2026, and responses are welcome from a wide range of stakeholders, including industry leaders, researchers, and regulators.

The MOD recognizes that the current regulatory environment may be creating barriers to innovation and growth in the defence sector. By reviewing the regulatory framework, the MOD aims to identify opportunities for simplification and improvement, while ensuring that safety and security are maintained.

One of the key challenges facing the defence sector is the complexity of the regulatory landscape. Uncrewed and autonomous systems are a rapidly evolving field, with new technologies and applications emerging all the time. This can create uncertainty and difficulty for regulators, who must balance competing demands for safety, security, and innovation.

The MOD has committed to working closely with stakeholders across Government to ensure that the review is informed by their experiences and expertise. This includes targeted questions and engagement with industry, as well as consideration of examples of problems encountered with the current regulatory system.

The review will consider a range of issues, including the impact of regulation on innovation and growth, the need for simplification and clarification of existing regulations, and the development of new regulatory frameworks to support emerging technologies. The MOD also recognizes the importance of international cooperation and collaboration in addressing the global challenges facing the defence sector.

In addition to the call for evidence, the MOD is launching a Front Door Pilot, which seeks specific examples of problems encountered with the current regulatory system. Submissions to this pilot will form part of the evidence base for the review.

The Defence Industrial Strategy sets out the path to becoming a leading tech-enabled defence power by 2035, making defence an engine for growth and driving forward the government’s Plan for Change. The strategy recognizes that achieving this requires doing everything possible to enable industry to innovate, including enabling through regulation. By reviewing the regulatory framework governing uncrewed and autonomous systems, the MOD aims to support the achievement of this goal.

The review is an opportunity for stakeholders to provide input and shape the future direction of the regulatory landscape in defence. The MOD invites responses from a wide range of stakeholders, including industry leaders, researchers, and regulators. By working together, the MOD aims to create a more permissive and simple framework that enables fast delivery, scalability, and innovation in the defence sector.

The review will also consider the impact of emerging technologies on the regulatory landscape. The MOD has identified several key areas where regulation needs to evolve to keep pace with technological advancements. These include the development of new standards and guidelines for autonomous systems, as well as the establishment of a more effective framework for regulating uncrewed systems.

The MOD recognizes that the current regulatory environment may be creating barriers to collaboration between industry and Government. By reviewing the regulatory framework, the MOD aims to identify opportunities for simplification and improvement, while ensuring that safety and security are maintained.

The review will consider a range of issues, including the need for greater clarity and consistency in regulations across different sectors, as well as the development of new frameworks for regulating emerging technologies. The MOD also recognizes the importance of international cooperation and collaboration in addressing the global challenges facing the defence sector.

Data protection is an important consideration in the review of uncrewed and autonomous systems. The MOD has committed to ensuring that any changes made to the regulatory framework are aligned with the latest data protection policies and guidelines. This includes the implementation of new standards for data protection and handling, as well as the establishment of a more effective framework for regulating sensitive information.

The review is an opportunity for stakeholders to provide input and shape the future direction of the regulatory landscape in defence. By working together, the MOD aims to create a more permissive and simple framework that enables fast delivery, scalability, and innovation in the defence sector.