Notice: Countering Illegal Use of UAS Around Prisons and Sensitive Sites

Why It Matters

Counter‑drone capabilities are becoming essential for protecting high‑value assets, and this competition accelerates commercial innovation to fill a critical security gap in the UK’s critical infrastructure.

Key Takeaways

• £1.85 million funding for anti‑drone solutions.
• Deadline: 31 March 2026, contracts start July 2026.
• Challenge 1 targets TRL 7, 3‑6 month projects.
• Challenge 2 targets TRL 4‑5, up to 12 months.
• End‑users include prisons, MOD, police, nuclear sites.

Pulse Analysis

The proliferation of uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) has transformed the threat landscape for prisons, nuclear facilities and other high‑security locations. Small, inexpensive drones can transport contraband, conduct surveillance or even deliver harmful payloads, exploiting gaps in traditional perimeter security. Governments worldwide are therefore prioritising counter‑UAS solutions that can detect, track and neutralise threats quickly, especially in dense urban environments where conventional radar struggles.

The UKDI competition represents a focused effort to harness private‑sector ingenuity for this emerging challenge. By allocating up to £1.85 million across two distinct technology‑readiness pathways, the programme encourages both near‑term, deployable systems (TRL 7) and longer‑term concepts (TRL 4‑5) that can be integrated with existing "last line of defence" tools. The short project windows—three to six months for mature prototypes and up to twelve months for developmental work—signal an urgency to field solutions before the next wave of drone‑enabled incidents hits critical infrastructure.

For industry players, the competition offers a clear market entry point and a validation mechanism that can accelerate commercial adoption. Successful bidders will see their technologies adopted by HMPPS, the Ministry of Defence, police forces and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, creating a pipeline for future contracts and export opportunities. Moreover, the emphasis on low‑collateral, safe mitigation aligns with broader regulatory trends that favour non‑kinetic counter‑measures, positioning the UK as a leader in responsible counter‑UAS innovation.

Notice: Countering Illegal Use of UAS Around Prisons and Sensitive Sites

Published 3 February 2026 · Last updated 18 February 2026

Example Competition Contract

Example Competition Contract (PDF, 156 KB, 31 pages)

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email [email protected] and tell us what format you need.

---

Introduction

This UKDI competition is run on behalf of the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), Ministry of Defence (MOD), the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), Home Office, 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 end‑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. This competition focuses on two challenge areas:

Challenge 1: Higher TRL Solutions

• Must reach technology readiness level (TRL) 7 by the end of the project.

• Maximum project length: 3–6 months.

Challenge 2: Medium TRL Concepts for Future Capability

• Must reach TRL 4 or 5.

• Maximum project length: 12 months.

---

Competition key information

| Key Information | Competition Details |

|-----------------|----------------------|

| Submission deadline | 12:00 Midday on 31 March 2026 (BST) |

| Total funding available | Up to £1.85 million (excluding VAT). A number of proposals may be funded. |

| Technology Readiness Level (TRL) | Challenge 1 must reach TRL 7; Challenge 2 must reach TRL 4 or 5 |

| Contract start month | Aim to start mid‑July 2026 |

| Project duration | Equal to or less than 12 months |

| Cyber Risk Assessment (CRA) number and risk level | RAR‑LJCLJ3E, Cyber Risk Profile – Level 1 |

| Feedback release date | 20 May 2026 |

| Pre‑sift criteria | See Section 8 Pre‑sift Criteria |

---

Webinar

UKDI Webinar: Countering Illegal Use of UAS Around Prisons and Sensitive Sites (YouTube)

---

Update history

1. 18 February 2026 – Added webinar recording.

2. 3 February 2026 – First published.