Overview
- The British Army and Ministry of Defence have committed £240,000 to establish a three‑year programme training 15 civilian students and up to five soldiers each year as drone technology specialists.
- The course will run at the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering in Hereford from September 2026, with expressions of interest open now.
- Students will study the design, build and testing of uncrewed systems and complete a Masters in Engineering one year faster than standard routes.
- Officials position the programme within the Strategic Defence Review and new Armed Forces Bill powers intended to deter, detect and defeat drone incursions.
- The move aligns with recent procurement steps, including the planned Octopus interceptor for Ukraine, underscoring a coordinated push to expand autonomous and counter‑drone capacity.