Securing the Battle-Winning Edge Through Innovation

UK Ministry of Defence, Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Baroness Taylor, has today launched a strategy to ensure that the UK Armed Forces reap the benefits of the latest developments in defence technology. 
 
The Innovation Strategy recognises that the UK must exploit world-class technology in order to respond quickly and effectively to both existing and new threats. In accordance with the aims of the Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) it sets out how the UK Government, industry and academia can work together to ensure that innovation in Defence technology is encouraged, rewarded and benefits the front line more quickly than ever before. 
 
Minister (DES) said: “We want to create an environment with industry where innovation is encouraged and quickly developed to give our military personnel a battle-winning edge. This is particularly important at a time when our opponents are becoming increasingly more successful at exploiting technology to use against the Armed Forces. 
 
“Through the Innovation Strategy we can replicate the recent successes of getting innovative technology to the battlefield rapidly, such as Mastiff, a mine-protected armoured vehicle, offering enhanced crew protection, and Desert Hawk, the super-lightweight unmanned air vehicle (UAV) currently relaying vital information about the enemy back to commanders in the field. 
 
“The Innovation Strategy sets out how the efforts of the UK Government, industry and university research and development can join up to make this happen and get the best value for money out of UK investment in defence.” 
 
The new strategy sets out the challenges that all parties must rise to in terms of five distinct pillars. These pillars explain the MOD's commitment to articulating better its capability needs, providing transparency in how it intends to translate these needs from aspiration to delivery and working in new ways that provide incentives for customers and suppliers to achieve greater innovation.