The U.K. Ministry of Defence has signed a major strategic partnership with U.S. data analytics firm Palantir, a deal officials say will unlock up to £1.5 billion in investment, create hundreds of jobs, and cement Britain’s role as a hub for defence technology and artificial intelligence.
Announced September 18, the partnership was signed by Defence Secretary John Healey and Palantir CEO Alex Karp. It will see Palantir make London its European headquarters for defence, bringing up to 350 high-skilled jobs, including 200 new staff within Palantir and 150 across the broader defence tech sector.
The agreement aims to accelerate development of AI-powered capabilities that speed up military planning, targeting, and decision-making. Some of the technology, already tested in Ukraine, fuses data from multiple sources to strengthen what defence planners call the “kill chain,” providing commanders with faster, more precise options for action. These systems will underpin the Digital Targeting Web, a key initiative from the Strategic Defence Review.
“This partnership is a major vote of confidence in UK leadership in defense, data and AI technology,” Healey said. “By harnessing the power of AI, we will boost the effectiveness of our Armed Forces, ensuring they have the tools they need to keep the British people safe.”
Palantir will also mentor British defence start-ups and small businesses, including pro bono support to help them expand into U.S. markets. The company pledged technical support for software deployment across the Ministry of Defence and promised to safeguard data sovereignty within the department.
Karp called the partnership a “deep commitment to the UK,” noting it builds on Britain’s status as Palantir’s largest presence outside the United States.
The deal aligns with the Defence Industrial Strategy and follows the recently announced U.S.-UK Technology Prosperity Deal.
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