Red Tape Hindered Military Drone Testing, Defence Secretary Reveals

A Royal Marine was compelled to test advanced underwater drone technology in his private garden pond due to regulatory obstacles that made official trials difficult, according to Defence Secretary Wes Streeting. He shared this anecdote while addressing the ongoing challenge of regulatory burdens that impede defense companies from developing new weapons systems.

During testimony before a House of Lords committee, Streeting acknowledged the government's broader push for deregulation but noted that defense technology testing continues to face significant "regulatory frictions." He stated that while regulatory oversight is crucial for lethal capabilities, innovation is being stifled by existing constraints.

"I met one Royal Marine who was developing underwater drone technology but testing it in a pond in his back garden because the regulatory hurdles to test in other environments were too high, so he just took the risk himself and did it at home," Streeting recounted. He expressed admiration for the Marine's ingenuity but stressed that a similar "can-do approach" should be fostered within his professional environment.

Streeting emphasized that the government has the "right intention and ambition and spirit" to address these issues but conceded that more work is required to remove these regulatory hurdles. He assured the committee that the Ministry of Defence is eager to act when industry and the armed forces identify "pointless regulation" or instances where the "risk calculus is in the wrong place."

Earlier, Streeting announced that a defense investment summit, initially planned as part of the government's defense investment strategy, is scheduled for December 1. He described the summit as an opportunity for the UK to showcase its investment in defense, its openness to business, and its commitment to industry partnerships.