Project PANOPTES: Protecting the Force. Enabling Manoeuvre.

UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) and the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) · the publisher calls it «Competition»

UK Defence Innovation, on behalf of MOD, ran a competition for an integrated counter-UAS force-protection capability capable of autonomous operation, with up to £5 million available across multiple contracts. Stage 1 closed on 30 September 2026, and Stage 2 proposals were to be invited, with a 26 November 2026 deadline. (machine-written summary)

Deadline

Not stated in the source

Source text: «12:00 Midday on 30 September 2026 (BST)»

Need owner

Ministry of Defence (MOD)

Programme

Project PANOPTES

Round

Stage 1

What is needed

Defence seeks additional capability to detect, track, identify, decide and defeat mass and low-cost threats in a cost-effective manner and without being overwhelmed or exhausting stockpiles.

How to respond

Stage 1 submissions should be made through the UKDI Online Submission Service where you will need to register for an account if you don't already have one.

Access

Norwegian suppliers: not stated — check the access terms

Membership required

Not stated

Funding

funded

Source text: «A share of up to £5 million is available immediately, the Authority anticipates an award of multiple contracts, subject to availability and quality of the proposals.»

Possible follow-on

forms the first phase of a planned multi-phase capability development and acquisition pathway leading to a future Programme of Record, subject to future approvals and contractual arrangements.

Commitment

subject to future approvals and contractual arrangements

Published by the source

2026-09-02

Last checked against the source 2026-10-10.