As part of the newly signed Trinity House Agreement, the UK and Germany are set to collaborate on the development of advanced Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) and maritime drones.
This joint effort aims to ensure interoperability between future combat air systems and strengthen military cooperation across multiple domains. The landmark agreement, signed by UK Defence Secretary John Healey MP and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, highlights both nations’ commitment to advancing their capabilities in unmanned air systems and future connectivity.
According to the joint statement from the two nations, “The UK and Germany will work jointly, in close co-ordination with Allies and partners, to develop and employ Uncrewed Aerial and Offboard Air Systems to ensure interoperability between Future Combat Air Systems.” This will involve the integration of common missile systems into drone fleets, such as the Brimstone missile, and sharing plans to develop interoperable offboard systems.
The agreement sets both short- and medium-term goals. In the short term, the two nations will focus on enhancing precision strike capabilities, with the integration of missile systems like the UK’s Brimstone into uncrewed air systems. As the joint statement explains, this involves “joint integration of common missile systems into drone fleets to enhance precision strike capabilities, drawing benefit from each nation’s previous experience.”
In the medium term, the partnership will focus on “joint exploration and development of cross-system Combat Cloud capabilities across aircraft fleets,” which would allow data sharing and seamless operation between both crewed and uncrewed systems. Additionally, new maritime uncrewed air systems will be developed to improve naval operations, further strengthening the interoperability between the UK and Germany’s forces.
The Trinity House Agreement also underscores the importance of aligning with NATO standards, with the joint statement highlighting the need to “support implementation of NATO-agreed common standards to ensure connectivity and collaboration between fighter aircraft, reinforcing inter-generation and (un)crewed teaming.”
This collaboration on drone technology represents a significant step forward in UK-German defence relations. Defence Secretary John Healey hailed the agreement, stating, “It secures unprecedented levels of new cooperation with the German Armed Forces and industry, bringing benefits to our shared security and prosperity.” Similarly, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius noted, “We will jointly increase our defence capabilities, thereby strengthening the European pillar within NATO.”