Sailors and air crews are set to benefit from new artificial
intelligence (AI) capabilities following the UK's largest ever
led multi-domain AI trial, bringing together land, sea and air
equipment.
The trial provides valuable data to develop and validate AI
algorithms. It strengthens the UK's position as a leader in
defence innovation, supporting the government's Plan for Change.
For the Royal Navy, AI technologies developed through these
trials will enhance maritime surveillance, improve threat
detection in complex sea environments, while enabling faster
decision-making during naval operations.
The Royal Air Force (RAF) will benefit from advanced target
recognition systems that can process information from multiple
airborne sensors simultaneously, reducing pilot cognitive load
and enabling more effective air operations in challenging
conditions.
Building on previous trials – known as WINTERMUTE - this third
iteration involved around 200 scientists from the Defence Science
Technology Laboratory (Dstl), military personnel from the Royal
Navy and RAF, industry representatives and international partners
collaborating at Portland Harbour to develop critical AI systems
for automatic target detection and recognition.
Over a five-day period, visual infrared and band radar data was
recorded from Royal Navy vessels, ground vehicles, and both
manned and unmanned aircraft, operating in mission-based
scenarios. The groundbreaking trial follows the Prime Minister's
historic commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP,
recognising the critical importance of military readiness in an
era of heightened global uncertainty.
Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Rt Hon
MP said:
“We can all see how AI has the potential to impact our lives and
enhance our war fighting ability, and UK defence is embracing
this leap forward in technology to better support our personnel
on the frontline.
“Significant trials like this, working with international and
industry partners, demonstrate the rapid progress we're making to
utilise new technology for keeping Britain secure at home and
strong abroad.”
The programme included crucial participation from the United
States and Australia, reinforcing the UK's commitment to
international defence partnerships, which helps drive long-term
national growth and support the government's Plan for
Change.
Dr Paul Hollinshead, Dstl's Chief Executive,
said:
"This innovative trial represents a significant advancement in
how we develop and test defence technologies. By bringing
together multiple domains and partners, we're not just collecting
data – we're creating the foundation for mission success and
operational advantage that will protect our forces for decades to
come.”
The use of these AI systems is designed to support, not replace,
human decision-making in defence operations. The technology aims
to reduce cognitive burden on military personnel by filtering
information and providing clearer battlefield
intelligence.
By curating high-quality data from multiple domains, Dstl is
creating the foundation for future AI systems that will provide
UK forces with operational advantage in complex
environments.
