The UK Ministry of Defence has commissioned defense firm Anartes to supply drone kits and training solutions worth £5 million ($6.6 million) to advance the British Army’s first-person-view (FPV) initiative. This program seeks to equip soldiers with the skills to operate small FPV drones for strike, surveillance, and simulation missions. Under the contract, Anartes will deliver over 1,000 units each of three FPV drone types — 5-inch, 8-inch, and 10-inch models — including batteries and FPV goggles. The systems rely on commercial off-the-shelf components and open-source firmware, allowing soldiers to assemble and maintain the platforms independently. The training curriculum will be conducted at Lulworth Camp, where instructors complete a two-day familiarization course before teaching new recruits. Operators must complete at least 15 hours of simulation before progressing to live flights that replicate real-battlefield conditions. The initiative builds on the British Army’s 2024 Defence Drone Strategy, which emphasizes developing organic drone-warfare capabilities at the unit level. Parallel efforts include new FPV pilot courses and simulation suites enhancing targeting accuracy and maneuver control. Beyond the army, the Royal Navy has fielded autonomous drones for shipborne reconnaissance and resupply, and the Royal Air Force has inducted the Protector RG Mk1 for strategic missions. The Anartes deal illustrates how low-cost, commercially derived drone systems are reshaping defense training and tactical operations through speed, scalability, and hands-on adaptability for future combat scenarios.
