Marine tests drone in garden pond

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting told a House of Lords committee that a Royal Marine tested an underwater military drone in his back garden because regulatory hurdles made testing elsewhere too difficult.

“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”

Streeting says red tape blocks innovation

Speaking to the Industry and Regulators Committee, Streeting claimed that regulatory frictions are hampering defence technology testing despite a government drive on deregulation across government.

“regulatory frictions were still hampering defence technology testing”

Balance needed between safety and speed

Streeting acknowledged that defence contexts require regulatory oversight because lethal capability is involved, but said more must be done to remove pointless regulatory hurdles blocking armed forces and industry.

“you don't just take off all of the regulatory oversight and constraints because we are talking about lethal capability”

Defence summit planned for December

Streeting announced that a defence investment summit will take place on December 1, describing it as an opportunity to demonstrate the government is investing more and open for partnership with industry.