Prisons: Unmanned Air Systems
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 23 February 2026 to Question 112783 on Prisons: Unmanned Air Systems, what is the full scope of the challenge launched on behalf of the Ministry of Justice by UK Defence Innovation.
Answered by Luke Pollard
This UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) competition is run on behalf of the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), the Ministry of Defence (MOD), the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), the Home Office, the Police, Innovate UK, and wider UK security stakeholders.
It is seeking proposals that offer innovative, low-collateral solutions to counter or defeat hostile drones targeting secure sites and locations. Drones, or ‘uncrewed aerial systems’ (UAS), pose a growing challenge when used for contraband delivery, surveillance and disruption near prisons, sensitive sites or critical national infrastructure, including in congested urban areas.
The users for the solutions would include HMPPS security teams, MOD, police, law enforcement agencies, and operational staff, these groups need solutions to work alongside existing ‘last line of defence’ technology that are activated when other mitigation measures fail.
Technologies in this area are developing rapidly. UKDI is keen to understand how innovation can keep up with the pace of development while remaining legally and ethically compliant, fully considering operational constraints, and integrating easily into existing security frameworks such as the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA), SAPIENT (Situational Awareness and Preparedness for Improved Operational Effectiveness and Efficiency), the Prison Act 1952, and the Police Act 1997. The calling notice can be found on GOV.UK.
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