UK MoD to fast-track agile software development
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) will invest £30 million in the development of application software for the armed forces, the MoD announced on 11 March.
The funding will allow the rapid adaption of advanced technology to be used in extreme environments, from natural disasters to the frontline.
The technology will provide the military the ability to combat emerging threats through the development of responsive software that can visualise and automate secure, critical information, tailored to the mission, anywhere in the world.
The new approach, supported by Joint Forces Command, will allow defence specialists to develop and customise applications to meet operational requirements, assure its robustness and security, and deploy it on military networks in a matter of days. As a mission evolves, the application will be able to be adapted and changed to keep pace with the demands of the operation.
The capability, called the Platform for Rapid Exploitation of Digital Applications, is similar to the technology being introduced by the US Air Force (USAF) and US Marine Corps. The USAF has already delivered 18 customised applications to support planning and C2 functions at its air operations centres.
While the approach is initially expected to provide tools to support decision making and C2, the initiative could be rolled out to other disciplines, such as cyber defence, logistics and medical support.
The technology is expected to be in use by the end of 2019.
More from Digital Battlespace
-
![AUSA 2025: Israel’s Asio Technologies to supply hundreds of improved Taurus tactical systems]()
AUSA 2025: Israel’s Asio Technologies to supply hundreds of improved Taurus tactical systems
Taurus operates alongside the Israel Defense Forces’ Orion system which supports mission management across tens of thousands of manoeuvring forces, from squad leaders to battalion commanders.
-
![AUSA 2025: Kopin pushes micro-LED plans as China moves faster]()
AUSA 2025: Kopin pushes micro-LED plans as China moves faster
The plan for the new displays follows fresh investment in Kopin’s European facilities by Theon and an order for head-up displays in fielded aircraft, with funding from the US Department of Defense.
-
![AUSA 2025: Persistent Systems to complete its largest order by year’s end]()
AUSA 2025: Persistent Systems to complete its largest order by year’s end
Persistent Systems received its largest ever single order for its MPU5 devices and other systems earlier this month and has already delivered the 50 units to the US Army’s 4th Infantry Division.
-
![Aselsan brings in dozens of companies and systems under the Steel Dome umbrella]()
Aselsan brings in dozens of companies and systems under the Steel Dome umbrella
Turkey has joined the family of countries attempting to establish a multilayered air defence system with government approval in August 2024 for the effort landed by Aselsan. Dubbed Steel Dome, the programme joins Israel’s Iron Dome, the US Golden Dome, India’s Mission Sudarshan Chakra and South Korea’s low-altitude missile defence system.
-
![DSEI 2025: MARSS unveils new agnostic multidomain C4 system]()
DSEI 2025: MARSS unveils new agnostic multidomain C4 system
MARSS’ NiDAR system has been deployed using sensors from static platforms to provide detection and protection for static sights, such as critical infrastructure, ports and military bases.
-
![Australia looks towards space with force restructure, investment and training]()
Australia looks towards space with force restructure, investment and training
Australia is looking to improve its presence in space with a focus on communications and creating a dedicated segment of its defence forces committed to the domain.
