How AI, Drones And Autonomous Vehicles Are Transforming The British Army

The British Army is entering a new era in which soldiers will increasingly fight alongside drones, robots and AI-powered systems.

I was invited by the U.K. Ministry of Defence to attend DVD (Defence Vehicles Dynamics) 2026, an event that brings together the Army and the companies developing its next generation of equipment. What I saw offered a fascinating glimpse of warfare in transition.

There were autonomous ground vehicles carrying supplies, drones conducting surveillance, AI helping commanders make decisions, virtual worlds for training soldiers, and counter-drone systems.

The common thread was clear. Technology is changing what military power looks like, and many of the lessons driving that change are coming directly from Ukraine.

The Army’s New 20:40:40 Model

The wider context is the British Army’s emerging “20:40:40” model, recommended in the U.K.’s Strategic Defence Review. The idea is that a future force could consist of around 20% traditional crewed platforms, supported by 40% reusable autonomous systems powered by AI and capable of tasks such as surveillance, navigation, targeting support and operating with varying degrees of human oversight, with the remaining 40% made up of consumable weapons such as missiles, rockets and one-way attack drones.

This represents a significant shift in military thinking.

A tank, attack helicopter or armored vehicle can cost millions and require trained people to operate it. Increasingly, those expensive crewed platforms could become command nodes for large numbers of cheaper machines operating around them.

At DVD, Defence Minister Luke Pollard made clear that this shift is already influencing where the Army is investing, with major funding going into drones, autonomous systems and new weapons designed for a more technology-driven battlefield.

Drones Are Becoming Central To Warfare

Drones were probably my biggest takeaway from the event.