DPRTE

Twenty exhibitors, from advanced manufacturing and metrology to data, cyber and clean power, will be on the exhibition floor alongside the speaker programme at the DPRTE UK National Defence Procurement & Supply Chain Summit in Manchester on 22 October.

Leonardo DRS has established DRS UK and opened a purpose-built UK production site, bringing full manufacturing of its tactical radars, used for counter-drone, air defence and force protection, onto British soil. Leonardo DRS has formed a UK subsidiary, DRS UK, and launched a full local capability for its tactical radars, including manufacturing at a purpose-built production site in the UK. The announcement was made on 5 October.

Denmark’s defence acquisition organisation has selected Thales to supply its new-generation RSM NG secondary surveillance radar at Sornfelli, replacing an existing system in under six months without interrupting air traffic control services. Thales has been selected by DALO, the Danish Ministry of Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation, to supply and deploy an RSM NG secondary surveillance radar at the Sornfelli site in the Faroe Islands.

The Support Company of the 4th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland has deployed to Lebanon to conduct a three-week joint training exercise with the Lebanese Air Assault Regiment, involving tactical drills in mortar systems, small-unit operations, reconnaissance and helicopter procedures. The exercise, which began in October 2026, includes participation from US and Italian forces and observers from France, Cyprus, Qatar and Jordan.

Three-quarters of British manufacturers surveyed are either already engaged in defence work or actively exploring entry into the sector, according to new research from accountancy firm Crowe and the Confederation of British Metalforming. The same survey found that four in five have adopted or are trialling artificial intelligence.

This week, Holly Holtom, from Reventec, looks at the ways that sensors are improving vehicle readiness across defence fleets. “Military vehicle availability remains a critical measure of operational effectiveness. Whether supporting frontline operations, logistics missions, or unmanned systems, defence platforms must remain reliable, available, and ready to deploy at short notice.

Air Vice-Marshal Richard Yates, Director, Operations Plans and Portfolios at the National Armaments Director Group, has been confirmed for the ‘From Plan to Pipeline’ panel at the UK National Defence Procurement & Supply Chain Summit in Manchester on 22 October.

Fighters, a U.S. bomber and tanker aircraft from six nations trained over Lithuania and Latvia to rehearse integrated air and missile defence under NATO Allied Air Command’s new Air Defence framework, with a French-led air component overseeing the scenario. NATO Allied Air Command (AIRCOM) hosted an air defence training mission over Lithuania and Latvia on 29 September, bringing together aircraft and assets from Germany, Italy, Latvia, Spain, Türkiye and the United States.

The UK defence sector has committed to creating 40,000 annual opportunities for young people by 2030, rising to 50,000 by 2035, under an agreement signed by the Defence Secretary and major industry players and due to form part of the Industrial Strategy Defence Jobs Plan.

Ukraine has proposed deepening its Enhanced Partnership with the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) by sharing combat-proven drone and counter-drone technologies, detection systems, and air-picture integration capabilities developed during its conflict with Russia. The offer comes as the country seeks to apply its operational experience to threats already affecting JEF members in the Baltic and North Atlantic regions.