UK government department defending the realm and guiding armed forces
Britain has reaffirmed permission for U.S. defensive strikes launched from bases in the UK as the Iran conflict escalates. Tehran has warned Britain to avoid joining the war, while UK officials stress a lawful, layered defence and close Nato coordination. The new statements follow ongoing US airstrikes targeting Iranian military sites after earlier offensive actions.
The UK is sharing the intellectual property behind its Stone Cloak electronic warfare system with Ukraine during a visit by President Zelenskiy and Prime Minister Burnham. Ukraine will mass produce the tablet-sized jammers to disrupt Russian air defenses, and Britain will integrate Stone Cloak into future long-range weapons.
Wildfires in France, Spain, and the UK have intensified amid an approaching heatwave. Authorities warn the crisis could last weeks, with hundreds of thousands evacuated and temperatures set to rise to 40C in parts of Europe. The Prince of Wales has expressed support for affected communities and emergency responders.
The Guardian, Al Jazeera and The Mirror report that new PM Andy Burnham has welcomed Volodymyr Zelenskyy to a Portsmouth naval base, affirming unwavering support for Ukraine and pledging to honour commitments. Zelenskyy says the UK will sign new defence collaborations, including electronic warfare and drone-related agreements, while Burnham stresses domestic priorities alongside international partnerships.
The UK has established an AI partnership with Ukraine to access the Avengers AI Lab database. The goal is to train models that strengthen national security and protect critical infrastructure, with pilots at defence sites and potential rollouts to airports, prisons, railways and energy facilities.
The UK has granted Ukraine access to declassified blueprints for British-made components used in the Scalp missile, the European-produced version of the Storm Shadow. Russia has warned of consequences and highlighted potential threats to UK bases in Europe as Kyiv deepens its defense production.
Nats has said a millisecond software defect in its flight‑data system has caused the outage that cancelled more than 2,000 flights and disrupted hundreds of thousands of travellers. CEO Martin Rolfe has apologised; Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has ordered an independent Civil Aviation Authority review and has asked Nats to report within a week.
Donors Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne have pledged record sums to Reform UK, aiming to level the playing field ahead of the next general election. The support follows investigations into Reform’s finances and questions about foreign donations, with the party insisting donations are for a party ready for government.
Palantir has appointed Lord Tom Watson as UK senior vice-president, expanding its UK leadership as it seeks to deepen public-sector work, including NHS and policing contracts. The move follows controversy over Palantir’s role in UK public services and amid ongoing legal and political scrutiny.
The government has pledged a £6bn package to upgrade Faslane naval facilities and fund UK-built floating docks and a marine research vessel, as part of a broader push to reindustrialise Britain. Rolls-Royce will invest £300m in British factories.
Teddy Young, 24, has been charged under the National Security Act for allegedly obtaining and preparing to disclose protected information to a foreign power between November 2024 and May 2025. He is in custody and due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. Authorities say the case is not linked to the RAF Fairford incident.