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Applied Intuition UK has secured a contract for the initial phase of the Ministry of Defence’s Software Defined Swarms program to develop a comprehensive autonomy test bed for ground-launched drone swarms.
The project, commissioned by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), focuses on near-surface swarming behaviors. By utilizing a mix of high-fidelity simulation and live flight trials, the initiative allows the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to trial and refine complex autonomous operations at an accelerated pace. This contract marks a significant expansion for Applied Intuition UK, which has grown its presence in the British defense sector since establishing its first UK office in May.
Acting as the prime contractor, Applied Intuition UK leads a consortium of industry partners and academia, including Rowden Technologies, Evolve Dynamics, SAIF Autonomy, and Frazer-Nash Consultancy. The Evolve Dynamics WOLFE-NATO platform will serve as the primary uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) hardware for the group. The consortium aims to deliver an integrated swarming capability that adheres to the principles of the MOD’s Land Open Systems Architecture (LOSA), ensuring the collaborative autonomy remains open and scalable.
Iain Lamont MBE, Head of Applied Intuition UK, said, “Applied Intuition UK is proud to partner with Dstl and this group of fast-moving SMEs to advance next-generation swarming capabilities. Our leading simulation platform will enable the British Army to accelerate delivery of its ‘20-40-40′ priority. We are providing a fast, open, and scalable autonomy testbed that will help the MOD learn and deliver at pace while driving growth and investment across the UK.”
The development follows previous successful demonstrations by Applied Intuition involving autonomous air-launched effects for NATO allies. Those earlier trials proved the software’s ability to manage swarm operations across various platforms within contested environments. This new domestic contract represents a milestone in the company’s effort to build sovereign autonomy capabilities within the UK industrial base.
