British Army soldiers are set to receive thousands of new AI-capable radios, headsets and tablets designed to speed up battlefield decision-making, after the Ministry of Defence awarded a contract worth up to £86 million to a UK technology firm.
The deal, announced by the Ministry of Defence, will see British-based BlackTree Technologies supply the Army with its Dismounted Data System (DDS), a tactical communications package that links soldiers through a shared digital network.
The system combines radios, headsets and display tablets with supporting equipment including antennas, batteries and cabling. It allows troops to receive intelligence and reconnaissance data in real time, either visually, audibly or through a combination of both, depending on the operational environment. The aim is to improve situational awareness, reduce the risk of friendly fire incidents and enable faster, more informed decisions on the ground.
The technology has already been trialled by British forces deployed in Estonia, where troops reported that the visual data element helped reduce distraction from battlefield noise during exercises on NATO’s eastern flank.
An initial £46 million contract has been placed with BlackTree Technologies, with options to extend the deal by a further £40 million. Deliveries are expected to begin in September, with the full rollout scheduled for completion in 2027.
The project is expected to create 12 defence industry jobs across sites in Tewkesbury, Hereford and Birmingham, supporting the government’s stated aim of increasing defence spending with UK small and medium-sized enterprises.
Luke Pollard, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, said the new equipment would help soldiers receive and share accurate information more effectively, strengthening battlefield integration. He added that the programme also demonstrated how defence investment could support UK jobs and industrial growth.
The DDS programme supports the Army’s wider modernisation plans, including the ambition to significantly increase lethality by 2027, and aligns with the Strategic Defence Review’s focus on improving readiness through digital and data-driven capabilities.
