UKDI opens Cycle 8 of Innovation Support to Operations (C-UAS sensors, OWA seekers, survivability, maritime autonomy)

UKDI launches Cycle 8 of Innovation Support to Operations - a fast paced competition to identify and accelerate innovative technologies for scalable manufacture and urgent defence deployment. 

UKDI has launched Cycle 8 of Innovation Support to Operations
Funded by the
Ministry of Defence
Cycle 8 closes at 12:00 Midday on 22 September 2026 (BST)
UK Defence Innovation (UKDI)
sits within the
National Armaments Director (NAD) Group
, the part of UK defence responsible for developing, delivering and sustaining the UK’s national arsenal, as well as managing the defence estate, including its housing and harbour infrastructure.
UKDI is inviting innovators from across UK industry and academia to submit proposals with a clear route to operational deployment. Solutions must combine technical excellence with affordability, manufacturability and the ability to scale quickly to get into operational use within 12 months of the end of the project.
Our aim is simple: deliver useful technology into service faster than our adversaries.
Projects are expected to achieve at least
Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6
within 4 months and demonstrate performance in representative operational environments. Beyond proving the technology, innovators will need to show how production could be rapidly increased to meet deployment demands.
If you have an innovation that could be deployed at an appropriate scale, in operational areas within 12 months of contract end, please read the full
competition document
and submit a proposal.
The Challenge Areas:
The competition focuses on five challenge areas where novel technologies could deliver immediate operational impact:
Counter UAS interceptor sensors
One-way attack UAS seekers
Platform survivability
Telemetry data
Maritime autonomous navigation
Across all challenge areas, UKDI is looking for solutions with a credible pathway to manufacture and scale, ensuring successful technologies can move beyond demonstration and into real-world operational use. These challenges align with UKDI’s new
thematic framework.
For full details of the requirements of each challenge area, please read the
competition document
.
Key dates and funding:
Applications must be submitted through the
UKDI Online Submission Service
by 12:00 midday (BST) on 22 September 2026.
Funding decisions are expected to be communicated in December 2026, with successful projects aiming to start in January 2027.
Projects are expected to cost no more than £350,000, although proposals up to £1 million (excluding VAT) will be considered. Contracts are expected to begin in January 2027 and run for up to four months.
Encouraging innovation and collaboration
The competition is open to UK-registered businesses, sole traders and academic institutions undertaking project activity within the UK.
Innovators are encouraged to engage with their local
UKDI Innovation Partner
to discuss ideas and explore suitability for the competition. UKDI is also supporting collaboration between organisations through a dedicated collaboration survey, helping innovators identify potential partners and complementary expertise.
Projects selected for funding will receive support from UKDI project managers, technical partners and military stakeholders throughout delivery.
How to get involved?
Innovators with solutions that could address these challenge areas are encouraged to engage early with their local
UKDI Innovation Partner
.
To apply, review the full
competition document
and submit your proposal via the
UKDI Online Submission Service
by 22 September 2026.