UK startups use Ukraine drone data to build defence AI

British startups Sintela, Mind Foundry and Skyral have begun seeing results from a UK-Ukraine pilot that gives them privileged access to battlefield drone data collected during the war. The data includes sensor information on more than 6m detected objects, including tanks, artillery, air defence systems, infantry, aerial targets and drones, and is estimated to contain 4m hours of footage.

The Ministry of Defence has opened an “Avengers AI Labs” competition for 12 more firms to use the data to develop British-made drone swarms that can operate when communications are degraded or satellite navigation is unavailable. The MoD said the UK is the first international partner to secure access to Avengers Labs, giving industry a route to accelerate work for UK and Ukrainian defence requirements.

Sintela uses AI with fibre-optic sensing to classify footsteps, digging, vehicles, fence cutting and drones, while Mind Foundry is combining data sources such as battlefield microphone acoustics and previously helped upgrade the Royal Navy’s Thales sonar system. The MoD challenge reflects the “24-6-6” rule: 24 hours until the enemy attacks; six weeks until software becomes redundant; and six months to iterate before it is replaced entirely.

Experts and founders described Ukraine’s footage as a commercially valuable resource, with access tied to government-to-government drone agreements. The partnership could open defence technology opportunities for Britain, though executives warned that weaker tax incentives and the draw of US capital may make it harder to keep high-tech firms rooted in the UK.