DVD 2026 brought the UK’s land defence community together at UTAC Millbrook for two days of capability demonstrations, industry engagement and discussion about the future of British Army equipment, technology and procurement.
Sponsored by the National Armaments Director Group (NAD Group) and Army Headquarters, this year’s event adopted the theme “Connected for Combat: Aligning People, Systems and Decisions”. The focus reflected a growing recognition that battlefield advantage depends not only on individual platforms, but on how people, sensors, software, weapons and command systems operate together.
The event’s practical demonstrations placed modern land platforms firmly in the spotlight. Challenger 3, Ajax, Boxer, RCH-155 artillery and the M270A2 multiple launch rocket system featured in discussions about the Army’s evolving force structure, with an emphasis on integrating established platforms with new technologies and operational concepts.
One of the most significant announcements came on the opening day, when the Ministry of Defence confirmed two major investments in uncrewed aerial systems. A contract worth up to £400 million will bring Tekever’s AR5 long-endurance surveillance drones into service, while a separate £16 million deal will deliver more than 1,000 smaller drones from UK suppliers. Together, these systems are intended to improve battlefield intelligence, situational awareness and troop protection.
The event also highlighted the importance of smaller businesses in delivering defence innovation. A dedicated SME Zone provided an opportunity for emerging suppliers to showcase their technologies and engage with defence stakeholders. With lessons from Ukraine continuing to influence requirements, the challenge remains how to move promising technologies from demonstration to operational service more quickly.
Beyond equipment, discussions addressed procurement reform, international collaboration, defence financing and the industrial capacity required to deliver future capability. The emphasis on connecting people, systems and decisions reflects a wider shift towards integrated, adaptable forces rather than treating individual platforms as standalone solutions.
For the UK defence sector, DVD 2026 reinforced the importance of closer collaboration between the armed forces, government and industry. The next challenge is turning that collaboration into deployable capability at the pace the operational environment demands, while ensuring that innovative suppliers can contribute to the process.
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