Market Intelligence
Defense Equipment United Kingdom

United Kingdom Defense Seeks Novel Innovation in Autonomous Sensor Management

The Defence and Security Accelerator, part of UK Defence Innovation, in partnership with the Defence Science Technology Laboratory is seeking proposals for innovations which will deliver autonomous sensor management which are able to detect and counter activity designed to deceive Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) efforts. Projects are expected to run from May 2026 to December 2027 for not less than 18 months with up to $1.3 million funding available for innovators.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has committed to investing more than $1.3 billion to integrate its Armed Forces through a new Digital Targeting Web, set to be delivered in 2027. This Digital Targeting Web will operate across the UK integrated force by connecting sensors, deciders and effectors to create choice and speed when operating in any contested domain, including electromagnetic, space and cyber. Methods which detect and counter activities designed to deceive the ISR picture are crucial for such operations; adversaries inherently hide their state and project false intent in order to maximize the success of their own missions.  

All military decision making requires an understanding of the current and potential tactical, operational and strategic environment. Such situational awareness relies on good ISR. In the modern warfighting context, there is a requirement to move from low-level ISR processes that are human-centric to those which employ a higher fraction of autonomy. This tightens the direct-collect-process-disseminate cycle and increases the tempo of operations.

Examples of what innovation in autonomous sensor management could include selecting and moving sensors or platforms to search for objects of interest, detect targets, identify, recognize, track, among many others, including more complex multi-objective problems.

Military scenarios are particularly challenging in that the ISR picture is complicated by targets who intentionally hide, misrepresent themselves and modify the environment to obscure their intent. This is a challenge for autonomous processes and one which the current generation of sensor management is not fit to address.

The MOD therefore seeks innovative proposals on how to undertake autonomous sensor management in scenarios where deceptive entities are active. The MOD seeks methods to enable, and techniques for, detecting and mitigating deceptive activities when compiling and using an ISR picture.

Specifically, the MOD seeks:

  • Autonomous sensor management and information fusion approaches to counter activity which seeks to deceive ISR operations.
  • Demonstration using a representative sensing network in a relevant environment (i.e. at Technology Readiness Level 6).
  • Use of open standards, in particular to interface with its wider ISR enterprise.
  • Innovations capable of being brought to market by collaboration between development partners.

Ultimately the MOD is looking to acquire solutions which could be integrated within its wider ISR enterprise and therefore require an open, flexible, and modular architecture to enable integration.

U.S. companies have a worldwide reputation for innovative products, after sales service, and training which makes them competitive in the UK market and with the MOD. The U.S. and UK also share similar business cultures and business practices, which makes the UK an attractive market for U.S. suppliers.

If you have a proposal which provides novel solutions for the development of autonomous sensor management, or if you would like to learn more about security and defense opportunities in the UK, please contact PJ Menner at the U.S. Embassy London via PJ.Menner@trade.gov.