British Armed Forces • Page 2 of 4

Nov- 2025 -

20 November

Arms

Pictured: Gunners prep the 30mm rounds for the DS-30M Mk II Naval Gun on HMS Dauntless. HMS Dauntless conducts the last gunnery serial with ships company cleaning, preparing and loading weapons prior to going through the Suez Canal with the Carrier Strike Group. Images taken on 23rd May 2025. The Carrier Strike Group is the Royal Navy's key deployment of 2025. Led by UK flagship HMS Prince of Wales and involving a dozen nations, the eight-month mission - known as Operation Highmast - will take the task group to the western Pacific Rim via the Mediterranean and Middle East with a series of large-scale exercises with Britain's allies and partners. The goal is to reaffirm the UK's commitment to the security of the Mediterranean collective resolve with our allies and showcase British trade and industry. Over the course of the deployment, upwards of 4,500 British military personnel will be involved, including nearly 600 RAF and 900 soldiers alongside 2,500 Royal Navy sailors and Royal Marines.

UK Maps 13 Sites to Rebuild Local Arms Industry, Sustain Ukrainian Aid

The UK has revealed 13 possible locations for a new production network of munitions and energetic materials, aimed at supplying the British Armed Forces and bolstering support for Ukraine.

14 November

Europe

Christine Casimiro

UK Army Receives First Ground-Based Surveillance Radar From Elbit Systems

The British Army’s artillery arm has received its first tranche of ground-based surveillance radar systems from Elbit Systems UK, following successful live-fire trials in early 2025.

5 November

Europe

Soldiers from number 3 Company carry the log during the race. The Coldstream Guards dig in on Windsor Great Park. Physical prowess and an unshakeable will to succeed are vital requirements for Guardsmen in the British Army. To test themselves the infantry soldiers of the Coldstream Guards take on the tough physical and mental challenge of a log race in Windsor Great Park. While it may look like a walk in the park, the task of carrying a 100kg metal “log” around a 3,000-metre course is one of the most difficult trials that a soldier faces. Teams of 12 personnel are required to shepherd their load over undulating, boggy terrain at full speed – only six pairs of hands are allowed to hold the weight any one time.

Rojoef Manuel

UK Reveals 13,000+ Troops Medically Unfit for Frontline Duty

The UK Ministry of Defence has revealed that 13,113 members of the British Armed Forces are currently unfit for frontline service.

Oct- 2025 -

15 October

Europe

Joe Saballa

British Forces Put AI Through Its Paces in Latvia Combat Training

British soldiers have taken a step into the army’s AI-driven future, trialing the latest uncrewed systems and artificial intelligence tools during Exercise Forest Guardian in Latvia.

Sep- 2025 -

17 September

Europe

A British soldier uses a L11A1 Machine Gun

Jodesz Gavilan

UK to Boost L111A1 Heavy Machine Gun Firepower

The UK has awarded FN Herstal a $27.3 million contract to upgrade its iconic L111A1 heavy machine guns to boost firepower for the British Army and Royal Navy.

Aug- 2025 -

4 August

Europe

The Royal Navy is embracing Virtual Reality to train sailors guiding warships on operations worldwide. Shown here is LH Quinn conducting training within the virtual reality training simulator. Nine hi-tech bridge simulators – which accurately recreate both the bridge of present-day warships, but also the key waters and harbours they operate in – have been installed at sites in England and Scotland, led by the Navy’s warfare school at HMS Collingwood in Fareham. The £27m investment in partnership with Team Fisher, (a consortium of partners led by Capita which delivers shore-based training for the Royal Navy) and Metaverse VR, is intended to make learning navigation and running a bridge more realistic, better and potentially faster. Five simulator suites have been installed at HMS Collingwood: two large ‘full mission’ simulators with wrap-around digital display screens and virtual reality headsets, a smaller version with an LCD display and finally two small trainers – more akin to a video gaming set-up, but with the same features/accuracy as their full-size counterparts.

Rojoef Manuel

UK to Launch First-Ever Military Esports League in 2026

The UK Ministry of Defence has collaborated with the British Esports Federation to facilitate London’s first defense-focused esports tournament.

Jul- 2025 -

24 July

Arms

Paratroopers have demonstrated the firepower that they could bring to bear during combat missions as the British Armys global response force. As the culmination of a course in support weapons skills, paratroopers staged a firepower demonstration on Salisbury Plain. A fast-moving scenario saw an advancing force of enemy armoured vehicles engaged and defeated with Javelin and NLAW anti-tank missiles, 81mm mortar, Grenade Machine Guns, Heavy Machine Guns and General Purpose Machine Guns. Paratroopers opened fire from both ground positions and while moving in RWMIK patrol vehicles. The five-week-long Support Weapons Cadres trained soldiers from Colchester-based 2nd and 3rd Battalions The Parachute Regiment to serve in their units specialist Machine gun, Mortar and Anti-tanks platoons. Soldiers were taught the practical skills to fire and maintain weapons in the field, and how to use firepower in different tactical scenarios.

Rojoef Manuel

British Soldiers at Risk of Brain Damage From Weapon Use

The UK Ministry of Defence has revealed that thousands of British soldiers are potentially suffering from brain damage due to their own weapon systems.

Jun- 2025 -

23 June

Europe

Soldiers from 1 Infantry Training Battalion pictured during the parade to mark their end of training at Helles Barracks, Catterick. On 30 Sep 22, recruits from 1 Infantry Training Battalion (1 ITB), based at Catterick Garrison’s Infantry Training Centre (ITC), conducted a pass off parade to mark the conclusion of their Combat Infantryman Course. This is the first time that British soldiers have completed training and passed off the square under the reign of HM King Charles III. 1 ITB train all line infantry in the British Army.

Rojoef Manuel

UK Lib Dems Call for $13,000 Signing Bonus for New Troops Amid Global Uncertainty

The UK’s Liberal Democrats are lobbying for a 10,000-pound ($13,378) bonus for recruits to increase military enrolment.

20 June

Europe

Infantry Squad Vehicles. Photo: GM Defense

Rojoef Manuel

GM, NP Aerospace to Offer Infantry Squad Vehicle for UK’s LMV Program

GM Defense and NP Aerospace have partnered to jointly pitch the Infantry Squad Vehicle for the British Armed Forces Light Mobility Vehicle initiative.

17 June

Europe