The UK will launch a defense-focused drone engineering degree to train future specialists in military technology.
The three-year program will be offered by the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering in Hereford, England.
Backed by a 240,000-pound ($322,290) investment from the British Army, the course will train 15 civilian students and up to five soldiers per year in military drone systems and related technologies.
The program is designed to equip students with specialist skills for emerging defense needs, creating faster pathways into roles involving uncrewed systems, autonomy, and other technologies central to modern military operations.
Students will complete the program faster than standard engineering degrees, enabling earlier entry into defense technology roles.
Expressions of interest for prospective students are now open for the September 2026 intake.
According to the UK government, the course responds to lessons from the conflict in Ukraine, addressing the growing threat posed by uncrewed systems and strengthening London’s ability to detect, deter, and counter drone incursions over military sites.
UK Focus on Drones
The new degree program comes as the UK intensifies its focus on unmanned technologies, both for battlefield use and counter-drone defense.
In November last year, the British Army tested Chinese-made 3D printers during exercises in Kenya to produce tactical unmanned systems on-site.
In October 2025, Kyiv and London agreed to co-produce thousands of Octopus-100 interceptor drones, marking the first time a Ukrainian combat unmanned aerial vehicle will be manufactured inside a NATO member state.
Moreover, earlier last year, British soldiers were reportedly set to receive broader rules of engagement allowing them to shoot down drones targeting military bases, reflecting heightened alarm over potential Russian-linked activity.
Until now, personnel have been largely limited to non-lethal measures such as diversion or GPS disruption.
