AI, drones and data: Defence giants splash record $4.1bn on tech start-ups Tech Investment in defence tech start-ups has reached a record high this year as the world’s biggest arms companies step up spending on new military technology. New figures from Dealroom show defence contractors including BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin and Airbus have participated in $4.1bn (£3bn) of venture capital funding rounds so far this year, the highest [...]
Defence drilling firm tools up for London IPO Markets Aerospace drilling company Tek4 is gearing up for an initial public offering in London, City AM can reveal, in a boost to the London Stock Exchange as it looks to tempt more defence firms to market. The Leicestershire-based company, which counts Rolls-Royce and GE among its customers, is looking to raise £20m through a listing [...]
Burnham vows to ‘get serious’ about slashing welfare bill Politics Andy Burnham has vowed that he will “get serious” about slashing the welfare bill, as the Prime Minister hunts savings to boost defence spending. “We’ve got to get really serious as a country [about] getting the welfare bill down,” Burnham told the BBC in his first full interview since becoming Prime Minister last week. He [...]
‘Extremely dangerous’: AI warfare much bigger threat than LLM model advances, experts warn July 25, 2026 The growing use of AI in warfare poses a much bigger threat to the future of the UK than the latest advances in frontier AI models, experts have told City AM. Nicholas Fairfax and Max Rangeley, co-editors of The Artificial Intelligence Revolution, said the ability of small actors to use AI to develop immensely powerful [...]
Babcock and Rolls-Royce stocks rally after Healey appointment July 21, 2026 Defence stocks including Rolls-Royce have stormed to new highs as investors added to bets that the new Chancellor John Healey would plough further cash into London-listed arms companies. Defence supply giants Babcock and BAE Systems were among the biggest risers when markets opened on Tuesday, some 12 hours after former defence secretary Healey was appointed [...]
Victory wasted: The cautionary tale of Keir Starmer July 20, 2026 Keir Starmer sold himself as a non-politician, and proved again and again why political skills matter, writes Eliot Wilson.
Conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East boost Cohort’s order book July 15, 2026 The rise in global conflicts boosted Cohort’s order book as NATO nations continue to hike their defence spending. The defence technology group recorded a 13 per cent rise in revenue over the financial year to £306.4m, up from £270m. The jump reflected its surging order intake, which jumped 10 per cent to £314.2m. Its order [...]
Which shadowy MoD figures are blocking London’s secret new town? July 14, 2026 Could creating a new town on a west London airfield be a welcome revelation for the new PM? If, that is, he can face down a shadowy opposition.
Rolls-Royce shares rise as Burnham pledges investment in British defence July 9, 2026 Shares in London-listed defence firms including Rolls-Royce and Babcock rose on Thursday morning after Prime Minister-to-be Andy Burnham pledged to drive investment into Britain’s defence industry. The Makerfield MP said strengthening Britain’s defence will be his “first priority” if he enters Number 10 – as he is expected to later this month – but insisted [...]
Treasury minister: Meeting Nato defence pledge is Burnham’s job July 9, 2026 The Treasury has not evaluated how the government could reach its pledge to spend 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product on defence by 2035, according to a cabinet minister, who said it was a job for the “next government” to carry out. Speaking to a parliamentary committee, chief secretary to the Treasury Lucy Rigby [...]