UK Defence and Security Onshore (UKDI) Regional Engagement is the MOD's programme for connecting with defence SMEs and innovators outside of the traditional South-East corridor. The Yorkshire & Humber region has a significant defence footprint — manufacturing, ISR, logistics, and cyber — and UKDI's Regional Engagement Team serves as the bridge between local innovators and MOD procurement.
| Regional Asset | DEFONEOS Connection |
|---|---|
| RAF Menwith Hill (ISR) | ISR fusion platform — 30 source COP directly relevant |
| RAF Fylingdales (BMEWS) | Sovereign radar/space surveillance data integration |
| University of Leeds (Data Science) | AI/ML talent pipeline, joint research |
| University of Sheffield (AMRC) | Advanced manufacturing — drone hardware |
| Leeds/Sheffield City Regions | DASA regional events, defence clusters |
| Yorkshire flood history (2007, 2015, 2024) | Primary DEFONEOS civil emergency use case — Digital Twin test bed |
The following email is ready for Nick to review and send to the UKDI Yorkshire/Humber Regional Engagement Team. It introduces DEFONEOS and requests an initial meeting.
| Organisation | Role | Relevance | Contact Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| UKDI Regional Engagement Team (Yorkshire) | MOD regional liaison for defence SMEs | Primary point of entry for regional innovators | 🔴 DRAFT READY |
| DASA Northern Hub | Regional DASA outreach and challenge briefings | Funding pathway + technical assessment | 🔴 DRAFT READY |
| Joint Forces Command (JFC) | End user for C2+ISR platforms | Sponsor for DASA Phase 2 prototype | — |
| 1 ISR Brigade | UK military ISR operator | Operational requirements source | — |
| Dstl Porton Down | Defence science & technology | Technical validation partner | — |
| Defence Solutions Centre (DSC) | Rapid procurement gateway | Fast-track procurement route | — |
| RAF Leeming | Regional RAF base | Potential drone test range / sponsor | — |
| Leeds University (School of Computing) | AI/ML research | Talent pipeline, joint R&D | — |
| Capability | Regional Benefit |
|---|---|
| 30-source ISR fusion platform | Supports RAF Menwith Hill + Fylingdales ISR mission |
| Autonomous drone swarm (Mava RL) | Aligns with AMRC Sheffield manufacturing capability |
| Digital Twin of Yorkshire | Direct civil resilience value — flood response, emergency planning |
| Open-source defence stack | Creates regional skills ecosystem — Leeds/Sheffield grads get defence AI jobs locally |
| JSP 936 compliance generator | Lowers barrier for other Yorkshire SMEs to enter defence AI market |
| DASA-ready prototype | £350K Phase 2 bid injects capital into regional economy |
1. Initial briefing meeting with UKDI Regional Engagement Team (30 min, virtual or in-person at Leeds/Sheffield).
2. Introduction to the appropriate MOD sponsor for the DEFONEOS ISR + C2 + Swarm capability (likely JFC or 1 ISR Bde).
3. Guidance on DASA Open Call submission and potential DASA Northern Hub support.
4. Identification of regional test range / facility for drone swarm validation (RAF Leeming or equivalent).
| # | Action | Timing | Channel | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Initial email to UKDI Regional Engagement Team | Day 10 (13 Jul) | 🔴 READY (Nick sends) | |
| 2 | Follow-up call if no response in 5 working days | Day 15 (18 Jul) | Phone | — |
| 3 | Briefing meeting (30 min demo of DEFONEOS platform) | Day 20-25 | Teams/In-person | — |
| 4 | Sponsor introduction — MOD end user identified | Day 25-30 | Warm intro | — |
| Material | Format | Status |
|---|---|---|
| DEFONEOS Platform Overview | Live web page | LIVE |
| DASA Application Packet | Auto-generated | LIVE |
| NATO DIANA Application | Auto-generated | LIVE |
| ISR Pipeline Demo (YOLOv8) | Interactive notebook | LIVE |
| Swarm Engine Demo (Mava RL) | Training curriculum | LIVE |
| UK Deployment Guide | 90-day plan | LIVE |
| Real-World Scenarios | 6 case studies | LIVE |
| 3-minute pitch video | Video | NEEDS NICK |
This email is drafted and ready. Nick needs to:
des-staffa-ukdi@mod.gov.uk