MOD Spends £4.17 Million to Expand Army FPV Drone Training

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has awarded a significant contract worth up to £4.17 million to the Exeter-based defence supplier Anartes Ltd, marking a substantial expansion of the British Army’s First-Person View (FPV) drone training programme.

The contract, officially titled the Innovative Technology Acquisition & Development Agreement for “FPV Tranche 2 Kits & Ancillaries,” enables the purchase of necessary equipment to train pilots within the Field Army for a developing FPV strike capability.

Anartes Ltd, a specialist defence supply expert serving the UK Military, MOD, Police, and Government Agencies, secured the agreement, which has an initial order value of £2.28 million. The engagement is scheduled to last up to two years, comprising an initial 12-month period with an option for a further 12-month extension.

Known internally as RAPSTONE FPV Strike Tranche 2, the initiative aims to prepare troops for the future integration of FPV systems capable of carrying anti-tank, anti-personnel, and anti-structure munitions.

The procurement reflects the British Army’s growing emphasis on low-cost, attritable uncrewed aerial systems, lessons learned particularly from conflicts such as Ukraine, where improvised FPV platforms have demonstrated precision strike effectiveness against vehicles and fortifications.

The technical requirement is designed to use primarily commercial off-the-shelf components and open-source firmware, establishing a cost-effective training pathway towards future military-grade FPV drone operations.

The delivery package is substantial, encompassing 3,000 quadcopter style drones across three size variants, with 1,000 units provided for the 5-inch kit (which users assemble), the 8-inch bind and fly drone, and the 10-inch bind and fly drone.

Key ancillary equipment totals 1,000 units each for FPV goggles (including patch antennas and batteries), controllers, FPV toolkits, and battery chargers. Additionally, the order includes 50 Ground Control Stations and 500 video output screens.

Personnel operating these new systems must possess prior experience with small Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and undergo a minimum of 15 hours of simulator training. The contract also mandates two days of equipment training, aimed at experienced instructors, to be delivered at Lulworth Camp.

This programme seeks to develop a skilled cadre of operators, positioning the Field Army to integrate small, rapid-strike drone capabilities into future combat operations. Anartes Ltd, based in Exeter, is responsible for fulfilling the requirements of the contract