New £1 Million Competition Seeks Autonomous Sensor Technologies

Land December 4, 2025

The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA), part of UK Defence Innovation (UKDI), has launched a £1 million competition to develop autonomous sensor management technologies capable of countering deception in Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations.

Announced on 2 December 2025, the competition is being run on behalf of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), with funding provided by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Chief Scientific Adviser’s budget. DASA expects to fund two collaborative projects through this initiative, which has been designated ‘Autonomous Sensor Management and Sensor Counter Deception – Phase 2’.

The competition addresses the increasing need for automated ISR processes to support military decision-making in complex operational environments. As adversaries employ sophisticated methods to hide or misrepresent their activities, the MOD requires resilient sensor systems that can function with high levels of autonomy. This initiative directly supports the MOD’s objective to integrate the UK Armed Forces through a new Digital Targeting Web by 2027, a network designed to connect sensors, decision-makers, and effectors to accelerate operational tempo. Developing sensor management capabilities that are resilient to deception is critical to maintaining situational awareness within this future integrated force structure.

This second phase of the competition seeks proposals for solutions that can be demonstrated using real sensing networks, reaching Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 by the project’s conclusion. A key requirement for prospective suppliers is the use of open standards, specifically the SAPIENT standard, to ensure that any resulting technology can interface with the wider ISR enterprise. The competition is open to new participants, and prior involvement in Phase 1 is not a prerequisite for submission. The aim is to foster collaboration between development partners to bring innovative solutions to market.

Successful bidders will have the opportunity to work closely with Dstl to integrate their systems into a large-scale demonstration. Suppliers are also strongly encouraged to showcase their innovations at NATO Innovation Continuum events, which provide a significant platform for engaging with key defence stakeholders and accelerating the adoption of new technologies. However, participants are advised that their demonstration capabilities should be self-sufficient, as the availability of Dstl or NATO infrastructure cannot be guaranteed.

The deadline for proposal submissions is 12:00 midday on 10 February 2026. A launch webinar for interested parties will be held on 16 December 2025, followed by one-to-one technical Q&A sessions. The funded projects are scheduled to run from May 2026 to December 2027.

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