Collection

Dstl's work: delivering mission success

Explore Dstl’s science and technology capabilities, with examples of how we are helping solve the most important challenges for UK defence and security.

• From: Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
• Published: 1 July 2014
• Last updated: 26 September 2025 — See all updates

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) provides unique science and technology expertise, insights and solutions for the UK’s security and defence.

Dstl has 4 strategic aims:

• enabling operational advantage at pace
• shaping the defence and security landscape
• preparing for the future
• leveraging and influencing internationally

This page sets out some recent examples of our impact for UK defence and security.

For more information about our work contact centralenquiries@dstl.gov.uk

Shaping the defence and security landscape

Shaping the defence and security landscape

• Top secret lab develops atomic clock using quantum technology
  • 2 January 2025
  • Press release
• Munitions planning informed by operational analysis
  • 24 December 2024
  • Case study
• Gaming tech used to support Defence decision-making
  • 18 December 2024
  • Case study
• How crowds react in an emergency or terrorist attack
  • 10 December 2024
  • Case study
• Aiding capability decision making for the Royal Navy
  • 2 December 2024
  • Case study
• Strengthening Defence Through Wargaming
  • 24 October 2024
  • News story
• Defence Experimentation and Wargaming Hub
  • 10 July 2024
  • Guidance

Enabling operational advantage at pace

• New satellite deal to boost military operations, jobs and growth
  • 10 February 2025
  • News story
• Defence: sustainability as a competitive advantage
  • 11 October 2024
  • Corporate report
• Shaping the way to win on land through operational analysis
  • 22 July 2024
  • Case study
• UK soldiers test next generation of body-worn technology
  • 21 July 2024
  • Press release
• X-ray robot could save lives on the battlefield
  • 3 October 2023
  • News story
• Successful trial for autonomous vehicle with sensor technology
  • 1 November 2022
  • News story

Preparing for the future

• Dstl to tackle emerging health threats
  • 31 March 2025
  • News story
• Dstl trials future of invisible war
  • 13 January 2025
  • News story
• New robots lead the way in bomb disposal innovation
  • 5 February 2025
  • Press release
• British soldiers to use high-tech rifle sights in jobs boost for Wales
  • 18 November 2024
  • Press release
• Designing Defence’s next generation multi-satellite system
  • 23 October 2024
  • Case study
• New air defence laser engages multiple missiles at once  
  • 20 October 2024
  • Press release
• First trial on British Army vehicle for high-powered laser weapon
  • 22 July 2024
  • Press release
• Cutting-edge drone killer radio wave weapon developing at pace
  • 16 May 2024
  • Press release
• New procurement rules help rapid fitting of military laser to Royal Navy ships
  • 12 April 2024
  • Press release

Leveraging and influencing internationally

• UK involvement in NATO science and technology activities
  • 23 July 2025
  • Guidance
• UK and Canada announce satellite collaboration
  • 10 October 2024
  • News story
• UK, US and Canada to collaborate on cybersecurity and AI research
  • 20 September 2024
  • News story
• AUKUS takes another step forward with real-time AI trials
  • 9 August 2024
  • News story

Capability areas

We work with industry, academia, international partners and government to find, integrate and fix problems for defence and security and make sure the UK has the right defence science and technology capabilities.

Our 22 capabilities are:

• Advanced Materials
• AI and Data Science
• Biology
• CB Advice
• Chemistry
• Cyber
• C4 Information Systems
• Electromagnetic Activities
• Energetics
• Engineering Biology
• Human and Social Sciences
• Multi Domain Systems
• National Security Systems
• National Security Exploitation
• Operational Research
• Quantum
• Robotics and Autonomous Systems
• Sensing
• Space Systems
• Strategic Systems
• Survivability
• Weapons

• AI and data science: defence science and technology capability
  • 15 August 2024
  • Guidance
• Robotics and autonomous systems: defence science and technology capability
  • 1 June 2022
  • Guidance
• Sensing: defence science and technology capability
  • 31 March 2022
  • Guidance
• Space: defence science and technology capability
  • 21 May 2025
  • Guidance
• Weapons: defence science and technology capability
  • 23 March 2022
  • Guidance

Defence Science and Technology Portfolio

Dstl, working alongside industry and academia, is predominantly responsible for delivering these programmes and projects to meet the MOD’s capability needs.

• Defence science and technology programmes and projects
  • 6 December 2024
  • Policy paper

Published 1 July 2014

Last updated 26 September 2025 + show all updates

1. 26 September 2025

   Updated our list of Capability areas.

2. 10 December 2024

   Added "Shaping the defence and security landscape" video and links to case studies from all areas of Dstl's strategic work.

3. 13 August 2024

   Updated new capabilities.

4. 15 November 2022

   Added the latest edition of The Science Inside, Dstl's round up of science and technology impact over the past year.

5. 31 March 2022

   Updated to include full list of science and technology capabilities, and link to updated Sensing capability information.

6. 23 March 2022

   Added updated weapons capability.

7. 20 December 2021

   Added updated robotics and autonomous systems capability.

8. 12 August 2021

   Added AI and data science capability

9. 10 July 2018

   Information Systems Programme added.

10. 31 May 2018

    Programme list updated. The Defence Agility, Adaptability and Cost Reduction Programme has been replaced with the Emerging Technology for Defence Programme.

11. 5 January 2018

    Updated list of programmes

12. 24 April 2017

    Removed Dstl accounts

13. 15 April 2016

    Added the Destructor Complex to Dstl's facilities

14. 1 July 2014

    First published.