British Army sets £2bn AI training plan

The British Army will introduce a new AI-enabled training system after the Ministry of Defence signed a £2bn contract aimed at preparing troops for modern warfare. Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis confirmed the programme during a visit to Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, saying soldiers need realistic training as battlefield technology changes rapidly in Ukraine and elsewhere.

The system will combine AI, advanced analytics, virtual environments, simulation and live systems to help troops train anywhere at anytime. The MoD said 60,000 soldiers a year would use AI and analytics to build a more lethal, combat ready British Army, with the technology designed to replicate battlefield complexity, spot patterns, monitor performance and support decision making.

The investment is expected to create 270 jobs in Wiltshire and support 420 across the UK over the next 15 years. A total of 100 apprenticeships will also be developed with Wiltshire College and the University of Staffordshire, covering areas including data, modelling and project management. The announcement follows Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s £15bn increase in military spending less than two weeks ago.