The UK Ministry of Defence has completed its largest-ever multi-domain artificial intelligence (AI) trial, testing cutting-edge technologies across land, sea, and air operations. The five-day exercise, held at Portland Harbour, brought together 200 scientists, military personnel, and international partners to advance AI capabilities in defence.
Led by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), the trial captured high-quality visual, infrared, and radar data from Royal Navy vessels, ground vehicles, and both manned and unmanned aircraft in simulated mission scenarios. The aim: to train and validate AI algorithms for target recognition, threat detection, and decision-making support.
“This innovative trial represents a significant advancement in how we develop and test defence technologies,” said Dr. Paul Hollinshead, Dstl’s Chief Executive. “We’re not just collecting data—we’re creating the foundation for mission success and operational advantage.”
For the Royal Navy, AI is being developed to enhance maritime surveillance and improve real-time threat detection in complex sea environments. The Royal Air Force will benefit from AI systems capable of fusing data from multiple airborne sensors, reducing pilot workload and enabling faster, more accurate decisions in high-pressure scenarios.
The trial builds on the UK’s ongoing WINTERMUTE series and aligns with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s recent pledge to raise defence spending to 2.5% of GDP. It also underscores Britain’s commitment to international defence cooperation, with the United States and Australia participating alongside UK forces and industry partners.
Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle MP, emphasized the strategic significance: “We can all see how AI has the potential to impact our lives and enhance our warfighting ability. UK defence is embracing this leap forward to better support our personnel on the frontline.”
The AI systems tested are designed to support—not replace—human decision-making, providing clearer battlefield intelligence and reducing cognitive burden on operators. The trial marks a major milestone in integrating AI into defence and reaffirms the UK’s role as a global leader in military innovation.
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