Defence Holdings Announces Second Classified AI Product Build: Edge Analysis & Identification

Defence Holdings PLC (LSE: ALRT), the UK's first listed software-led defence company, announced on Wednesday its second classified AI product build under Defence Technologies.

The new product is said to focus on edge-based analysis and identification support, addressing a high-priority requirement for UK and allied forces.

The company said the product aims to improve identification, reduce misclassification, and support decision-making in contested environments.

The software-led solution is expected to extend the value of existing hardware fleets by processing data at the edge and synchronising outputs back to headquarters.

Defence Holdings anticipates this will maximise the return on investment (ROI) on deployed hardware and reduce procurement costs.

This initiative aligns with the UK Strategic Defence Review 2025 (SDR25) and NATO interoperability objectives, potentially providing Defence Holdings with a direct policy tailwind and adoption pathway. The announcement follows the appointment of Field Marshal Lord Houghton as Incoming Non-Executive Chairman, marking another milestone for the company.

The AI-enabled software ingests data from deployed sensors, moving time-critical AI/ML inference onto secure edge devices.

By fusing multi-sensor inputs, flagging anomalies, and prioritising actions, the system provides operators and headquarters with timely, decision-ready context. Examples include on-platform sensor fusion, uncrewed systems performing onboard detection, and military units correlating radar and electro-optical tracks at the edge.

Defence Holdings will collaborate with a new hyperscale partner, pairing its sovereign AI capability with the reach and resilience of trusted technology platforms. This move aims to solidify the company's position within a global ecosystem for sovereign defence technology.

Andrew McCartney, Chief Technology Officer of Defence Holdings, commented that the company is “breaking through the traditional defence cycle” and building momentum across the defence community.

He stated that the second classified build proves that the model is scalable into areas of the highest operational value, such as identification and edge decision support. These are critical problems for the UK and allied forces.