Project PANOPTES Competition Overview
UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) has launched a new themed competition, Project PANOPTES, on behalf of the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The initiative seeks an integrated Counter‑Uncrewed Aerial System (C‑UAS) force‑protection capability for deployed land forces and fixed infrastructure.
- Open to UK‑based innovators.
- Total funding of up to £5 million is available immediately.
- Run under the MOD, the competition aims to deliver a cost‑effective solution that can detect, track, identify, decide and defeat mass, low‑cost UAS threats without exhausting stockpiles.
The competition uses a two‑stage submission process to reduce the burden on applicants and assessors. Stage 1 requires an outline of the innovation, while Stage 2 invites detailed proposals for successful concepts.
Learn more about the 2‑stage process in the Competition Document.
Background
Current approaches to countering UAS are limited by high costs, restricted mobility and the rapid evolution of unmanned aerial systems. To maintain a strategic advantage, UKDI is looking for solutions that can address these challenges through open architectures, modular design, autonomous operation, and, where applicable, laser directed‑energy weapons.
What We Are Seeking
The solution must protect deployed troops against complex attacks that could overwhelm existing defences and munition stocks. It should provide a more affordable response than legacy systems and be integrable with future uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs) and Army/Joint Ground‑Based Air Defence (GBAD) capabilities, while considering export potential.
Learn about the full requirements in the Competition Document.
Supporting Activities
A launch webinar is scheduled for 9 September 2026 to explain the operational context and allow participants to ask questions. Attendees should register via the provided Eventbrite page and review the Competition Document beforehand.
Please ensure you have read the Competition Document fully before attending.
Submitting a Proposal
If you have a capability that could safeguard troops and munition stocks, access the Competition Document to submit your idea. The submission deadline has been extended to midday 30 September 2026 (BST) due to updates to the Competition Key Requirements table.
Applicants are advised to review the revised Competition Key Requirements table again before submitting. The competition team will contact anyone who has already submitted a proposal, or who has a proposal in draft, to advise on next steps.