Securing the Skies: integrated air & missile defence for a compressed-time battlespace

Regain control of the air with faster, smarter, integrated defence

Airspace is now contested at every altitude and vector — from low-cost drones to hypersonics, electronic warfare and cyber. At DSEI, our Securing the Skies zone shows how integrated air and missile defence (IAMD) restores decision advantage and protects forces, infrastructure and citizens.

Why control of the air is harder than ever

Modern air defence must counter simultaneous, coordinated attacks: hypersonic glide vehicles, stealthy cruise missiles, massed UAV swarms, electronic warfare and cyber intrusions. Decision time is shrinking from minutes to seconds — leaving traditional, siloed systems struggling to keep up.

“Decision time is shrinking from minutes to seconds — leaving legacy systems behind.”

Closing the integration gap

Most forces still rely on fragmented architectures where sensors and effectors can’t easily share data or coordinate responses. The result? Slower decisions, wasted interceptors, and critical coverage gaps.
IAMD offers the opportunity to replace that fragmentation with a networked approach: connecting sensors, decision tools and effectors into one resilient, layered system that maximises coverage and ensures the right response, at the right time.

Any sensor → the right decider → best effector

What does this mean in practice?

Multi-domain sensing: Long-range radars, passive and space-based sensors stitched into a single picture.

Intelligent C2: AI-enabled tools process hundreds of feeds, highlight what matters, and give commanders transparent recommendations — with humans always in control.

Layered effectors: From ground-based missiles to directed energy and electronic warfare, commanders get the right-cost, right-effect response — not just “fire and hope.”

“Any sensor. The right decider. The best effector. That’s how you win back the skies.”

Proven today, preparing for tomorrow

Combat-proven: In NATO ForceShield trials, integrated radars and interceptors defeated drone swarms at 70% lower cost per engagement compared to traditional missiles.

Allied by design: As lead in the 23-nation EISNET consortium, we’re helping to set interoperability standards that keep coalition operations seamless.

Trusted AI: Our cortAIx platform accelerates classification and engagement while maintaining transparency and human oversight, aligned with TrUE AI principles.

Investing in sovereignty, skills and growth

IAMD is more than a military capability — it’s part of the UK’s industrial strategy. We’re investing in sovereign AI and skills, including a £40m cortAIx UK hub creating 200 specialist roles, and building stronger ties with UK SMEs and academia.

The result: sovereign control of critical technologies, jobs in the UK supply chain, and faster delivery of capability to the frontline.

Shown at DSEI: live in Securing the Skies

On-stand experiences demonstrated how:

• AI-powered analysis helps commanders classify threats in seconds, not minutes.
• Integrated sensors create a clearer picture of the battlespace.
• Orchestration tools pair “any sensor” to the “best effector” in layered scenarios.
• Next-gen systems like SAMP/T NG, RapidDestroyer DE and ForceShield demonstrate resilience against emerging threats.

At-a-glance: Securing the Skies delivers

• Decision advantage in a compressed-time battlespace
• Allied interoperability through NATO/EISNET standards
• Trusted AI for faster, explainable decisions
• Sovereign growth via UK skills, jobs and technology