MILITARY, AEROSPACE & DEFENCE INDUSTRY FOCUS
SHORING UP THE UK’S DEFENCE CAPABILITIES
control platform, developed and managed by a safe and trusted source.
Oliver Selby, head of sales at FANUC UK, examines how
automation can bolster the UK’s sovereign automation defence capabilities
W
orld military expenditure increased almost 10% from 2023 to 2024 to reach $2,718 billion. The countries with the
highest military expenditures are the USA, China and Russia respectively, but even across Europe, defence stocks hit record levels in 2025. In fact according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), in 2024-25 the UK spent £66 billion (2.3% of national income) on defence and, as part of a NATO agreement, has committed to increase defence spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035. Prices for defence procurement are likely
to increase if production capacity cannot meet global demand, so how can the UK ensure it doesn’t get left behind?
SUPPORTING DEFENCE COMPANIES Automation remains the fastest and most efficient route to increasing production capacity. However, the UK currently lacks sovereign robotic OEMs or large sovereign solution providers. For a nation that hosts some of the world’s leading defence and aerospace companies, including BAE Systems, Airbus and Rolls Royce, reliance on foreign automation technology presents strategic vulnerabilities that could compromise both national security and the protection of critical IP. At FANUC we understand that the defence spending landscape is changing rapidly. By supporting not only prime and tier defence companies, but also increasing automation capacity within wider manufacturing facilities, we can bolster the full UK sovereign supply chain. While our UK base in Coventry is leading the
charge, it must be acknowledged that FANUC is a Japanese-owned company. However, there are defence programmes of work currently underway that involve both the British and Japanese governments. For example, the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a multinational initiative led by the United Kingdom, Japan and Italy, to jointly develop a sixth-generation stealth fighter. In addition, FANUC has around a 50% market
share worldwide for CNC delivery to machine tool manufacturers, with a large proportion of such machines being heavily utilised in aerospace manufacturing. These operate on a common
www.designsolutionsmag.co.uk
CYBER RESILIENCE The issue of cybersecurity is set to rise in prominence over the next 12 months when the EU’s new Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) comes into force, beginning in September 2026 with full enforcement taking place in December 2027. Setting mandatory cybersecurity requirements for hardware and software products with a digital element, it requires manufacturers to ensure their products are secure by design, provide security updates, and report vulnerabilities and incidents throughout their lifecycle. All UK machine providers will be affected, and it will alter how equipment is risk assessed, and CE marked. The new FANUC R50iA controller – based on
the latest CNC hardware, FS500 – is already fully CRA compliant. Over the next two years, all our robots will feature this new controller as standard, while our oIder controllers are currently undergoing validation to ensure they also meet the new standards, well ahead of time. FANUC customers – across defence, aerospace or any other area of manufacturing – can rest assured that they will be ahead of the cyber resilience curve, with their machines futureproofed thanks to smart, safe and compliant equipment.
INNOVATION With the majority of new defence and aerospace projects spanning multiple years if not decades, ensuring equipment longevity and avoiding obsolescence could not be more pertinent. Any equipment – including robots and other automation solutions – employed in such projects must be extremely robust, reliable and futureproofed. FANUC will provide lifetime support on its products, assuring spare parts availability and local service support worldwide. Innovation is another crucial factor in this
sector. By working closely with manufacturers, as well as organisations at the cutting edge of R&D, we can provide what the market needs, and respond swiftly to changing customer demands. To this end, we are proud to be one of the keystones in not just the vertical supply chain, but also the horizontal, working with universities, R&D/training institutes, High Value Manufacturing Catapults (HVMCs) and more to support and develop innovation within automation. A prime example of this is Project Compass (Composites at Speed and Scale), an £80m investment which includes an aerospace manufacturing R&D project delivered by a consortium of companies including our system integrator partner Loop Technology, Boeing, Spirit AeroSystems and the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC). Three FANUC M- 2000iA/1700L six-axis industrial robots are being employed as part of the project, as well as an M-2000iA 1200L and a 900L model. We also supported Airbus with its in-house
robotics strategy, developing an industrial drilling robot (the M-800iA/60) to meet the company’s specific requirement. We welcome future collaborations such as this.
REDUCING PROJECT RISK Engaging with prime manufacturers and their first tier suppliers on a regular basis is crucial to project success in the defence and aerospace sectors. Keeping the supply chain tight helps to reduce financial risks, technical risks and security risks, as well as speed up project delivery with solutions that the market demands. We look forward to seeing the results of our
increased focus on bolstering the UK’s defence capabilities with domestic automation solutions, and the security benefits this can deliver for all.
Fanuc UK
www.fanuc.eu/uk/en
BATTERY CHARGERS FOR MILITARY EQUIPMENT
Ultralife Corporation has introduced lightweight battery chargers designed to help defence organisations comply with international air- transportation rules for lithium-ion batteries. The new range includes single-, dual-, six- and eight-bay systems for Land Warrior or UBI-2590 battery formats, supporting two commonly deployed power sources in soldier-worn and field-portable electronics. These support two main battery types. UBI-2590 batteries, often installed in communications devices and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) robots, can operate in either series or parallel mode and deliver voltages up to 28.8V. Land Warrior batteries, which may weigh as little as 525g, are commonly used for soldier-worn radios and lightweight portable equipment. Because both battery types must now be shipped at 30% SoC, being able to quickly discharge or recharge them upon arrival has become essential. The charger models include the UCH0057-01 single-bay charger for 2590 batteries, the UCH0071 six-bay 2590 charger, the UCH0070 eight-bay Land Warrior charger and the UCH0072 two-bay Land Warrior charger.
Ultralife Corporation
www.ultralifecorporation.com
FEBRUARY 2026 DESIGN SOLUTIONS 21
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