UK Army Goes High-Tech With Future Drones

 

The British military is looking to embrace future technologies with open arms, as it’s planning to invest some 800 million pounds ($1.03 billion) in speculative technologies including insect-sized drones, laser firearms, and virtual reality goggles.

Students and industry participants will be allowed to pitch their ideas to the new Innovation and Research Insights Unit (IRIS) which will be responsible for doling out the development fund.

The idea with this new division appears to be to experiment and take more risks with what sort of technology the military approves for testing and ultimately usage.

“This new approach will help to keep Britain safe while supporting our economy with our brightest brains keeping us ahead of our adversaries,” said defense secretary Michael Fallon.

Some of the specific technologies that the UK is said to be looking to explore include micro-drones that could be used to investigate incident zones like chemical spills and natural disasters, as well as sensors which utilize gravity to provide maps of underground structures, which could have a big impact when hunting for hidden enemies.

Virtual reality technology for calling in simulated air strikes is also being considered, as is laser weaponry. We aren’t quite talking Covenant plasma rifles, but more like the high-intensity laser weapons that have been used elsewhere to disrupt aircraft and missiles.

To give this some context, the US has allocated $4.61 billion for drone-related spending in the FY17 budget proposal, so considering this investment is to take place over the next 10 years, the British spending is far smaller. However, considering the overall military budget of the UK is also 12 times less than that of the US, $1.03 billion in investment in future technologies is nothing to sniff at.

The budget will be allocated as and when the new IRIS initiative decides, and will extend to investment in infrastructure, challenges, demonstrations and communications platforms to aid development. This will take place as part of the Ministry of Defense’s (MoD) accelerator program, which the MoD is currently seeking feedback on. Members of industry, academic institutions and the general public are all encouraged to provide their thoughts.

Ein News:

 

« Zimababwe Cyber Law Threatens Freedom of Expression
The Evolution of Hacking »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

ZenGRC

ZenGRC

ZenGRC - the first, easy-to-use, enterprise-grade information security solution for compliance and risk management - offers businesses efficient control tracking, testing, and enforcement.

IT Governance

IT Governance

IT Governance is a leading global provider of information security solutions. Download our free guide and find out how ISO 27001 can help protect your organisation's information.

ON-DEMAND WEBINAR: What Is A Next-Generation Firewall (and why does it matter)?

ON-DEMAND WEBINAR: What Is A Next-Generation Firewall (and why does it matter)?

Watch this webinar to hear security experts from Amazon Web Services (AWS) and SANS break down the myths and realities of what an NGFW is, how to use one, and what it can do for your security posture.

ManageEngine

ManageEngine

As the IT management division of Zoho Corporation, ManageEngine prioritizes flexible solutions that work for all businesses, regardless of size or budget.

XYPRO Technology

XYPRO Technology

XYPRO is the market leader in HPE Non-Stop Security, Risk Management and Compliance.

Arista Networks

Arista Networks

Arista Networks is an industry leader in data-driven, client to cloud networking for large data center, campus and routing environments.

Puppet

Puppet

Puppet is a leader in IT automation. Our software helps DevOps securely automate configuration and management of machines and the software running on them.

Prewen

Prewen

Prewen provide solutions to protect sensitive data across the organisation.

Latvian Information & Communications Technology Association (LIKTA)

Latvian Information & Communications Technology Association (LIKTA)

LIKTA brings together leading Latvian companies, organizations and professionals in the field of Information & Communications Technology

NTNU Center for Cyber & Information Security (NTNU CCIS)

NTNU Center for Cyber & Information Security (NTNU CCIS)

NTNU CCIS is a national centre for research, education, testing, training and competence development within the area of cyber and information security.

Cisco Talos

Cisco Talos

Talos is an industry-leading threat intelligence solution that protects your organization’s people, data and infrastructure from active adversaries.

Bechtel

Bechtel

Bechtel’s Industrial Control Systems Cyber Security Laboratory focuses on protecting large-scale industrial and infrastructure systems that support critical infrastructure.

Trusted Objects

Trusted Objects

Trusted Object's mission is to provide state of the art security solutions and services enabling a strong root of trust for the IoT ecosystem.

ADL Process

ADL Process

ADL Process offer secure data destruction, certified product destruction and responsible electronics recycling services to businesses and institutions.

Wolf Hill Group

Wolf Hill Group

Wolf Hill Group, a Slone Partners company, is a national recruitment firm focused on Cybersecurity.

Turnkey Consulting

Turnkey Consulting

Turnkey Consulting is a leading provider of Integrated Risk Management (IRM), Identity Access Management (IAM), and Cyber and Application Security.

Ankura Consulting Group

Ankura Consulting Group

Ankura is a global expert services and advisory firm that delivers services and end-to-end solutions in a wide range of areas including cybersecurity and digital transformation.

South East Cyber Resilience Centre (SECRC)

South East Cyber Resilience Centre (SECRC)

The South East Cyber Resilience Centre supports and helps protect SMEs and supply chain businesses and third sector organisations in the region against cyber crime.

Labaton Sucharow

Labaton Sucharow

Standing on the horizon of law and technology, our Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Practice helps to protect consumers who have been harmed by businesses’ failures to safeguard their customers' data.

Arelion

Arelion

Arelion is a leading light in global connectivity and we've been keeping the world connected for nearly three decades.

Borwell

Borwell

Borwell delivers software and IT solutions to the UK MoD and to UK Government departments, which are secure by design.