Exploring GNSS alternatives for weapon systems

News story

DASA is exploring innovative solutions for military navigation

The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) is pleased to launch a new Market Exploration called Alternative Navigation for Weapon Systems, which aims to explore alternatives to Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNNS) for military navigation.

This Market Exploration is being run on behalf of Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) and seeks to understand the range of technologies used for commercial positioning and navigation systems.

Do you have an innovative solution? Read the full Market Exploration now and submit your idea.

What alternatives are there for military grade navigation?

GNNS such as Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Galileo are widely used for commercial and military positioning and navigation, but these systems are vulnerable to jamming and spoofing.

In this market exploration, we want to explore alternative navigation technologies that could be developed and trailed within the next 3 years.

The potential system should:

  • be developed to an operational level in either a civilian or on military application
  • currently be at a Technology Readiness Level of 4 or above
  • not be solely reliant reliance on GNSS
  • have the potential to be further developed to meet military specifications
  • have sufficient accuracy to monitor position during deployment to within 5 metres.

We would be particularly interested in innovations from non-traditional defence suppliers and have a dedicated team of DASA Innovation Partners who can discuss your innovations and the Defence sector with you.

Key dates

The market exploration is currently open. The deadline to submit proposals is April 7 2022.

Submit your innovation

Do you have an in-depth understanding of emerging capabilities, technologies, initiatives and novel approaches that may help reduce our reliance on GNNS? Let us know about your technology and help inform DE&S in potential methods for alternative military navigation.

Read the full Market Exploration document and submit your technology.

Published 10 February 2022



Two fake PPE companies shut down

CK Sales Ltd and Lambden Smart Solutions Ltd have been wound up by the High Court and the Official Receiver has been appointed liquidator of the companies.

Both companies purported to supply Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which was desperately needed when the pandemic hit.

However, the Insolvency Service investigation found no evidence that either company had ever traded in the PPE supply market or any other area of business.

Both companies were registered at addresses in Droylsden, Manchester. In the case of CK Sales the landlord of the address told investigators he had never heard of the company, while the address that Lambden Smart Solutions was registered at was found not to exist.

CK Sales fabricated false lease documents and utility bills and sent these to at least 14 different local authorities to claim they were a business operating in their area, and to apply for grants under the Small Business Grant Scheme set up to support business during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Most were identified as fraudulent but the company received £80,000 from a number of local authorities before the fraud was identified.

CK Sales was also not entitled to taxpayer funding through the separate Bounce Back Loan Scheme, but nevertheless secured a £50,000 loan.

Lambden Smart Solutions was similarly found to have received a £50,000 Bounce Back Loan to which it was not entitled.

The Insolvency Service investigation was started following intelligence received through the National Anti-Fraud Network, and as a result both companies have been shut down.

There is evidence that both companies were part of a wider fraud network as the investigation identified links to SIO Traders Ltd and LV Distributions Ltd, which were shut down last year for fraudulently claiming Covid-19 financial support and also claimed to supply PPE, as well as medical products.

Dave Hope, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said:

These companies have been systematically defrauding taxpayers through their abuse of financial support schemes put in place to help genuine businesses during the pandemic.

The Insolvency Service will not hesitate to step in and ensure sham companies like these are shut down by the courts.

Notes to editors

CK Sales Limited – company number 11629235.

Lambden Smart Solutions Ltd – company number 11868585.

Both companies were wound up by the High Court of Justice, Business and Property Courts of England and Wales in Manchester on 22 January 2022.

All public enquiries concerning the affairs of the companies should be made to: The Official Receiver, Public Interest Unit, 16th Floor, 1 Westfield Avenue, Stratford, London, E20 1HZ. Telephone: 0300 678 0015 Email: piu.or@insolvency.gov.uk.

Company Investigations, part of the Insolvency Service, uses powers under the Companies Act 1985 to conduct confidential fact-finding investigations into the activities of live limited companies in the UK on behalf of the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Further information about live company investigations is available here.

Further information about the work of the Insolvency Service, and how to complain about financial misconduct, is available here

Contact Press Office

You can also follow the Insolvency Service on:



PM statement at NATO press conference: 10 February 2022

When NATO was founded more than 75 years ago, its members made a commitment to collective security that was unlike anything in previous history.

And when the Berlin Wall fell the people of Europe made it clear they wanted a future where their freedom and their security are inextricably tied together.

That is why NATO agreed that any country should be free to pursue the security alliances that it, that country chose.

And we must resist, we must oppose any return to the days when the fates of nations are decided over their heads by a handful of great powers.

And I want to stress this is not just about Russia, just as NATO itself is not just about Russia, of course not.

This is about upholding the founding principles of an alliance which, perhaps more than any other institution, has brought stability and peace, prosperity to the world.

And that must be the bedrock of our diplomatic efforts.

The UK’s commitment to European security is unconditional and immovable. We have the biggest defence budget in Europe and the second largest in NATO.

We have contributed more troops than any other ally to NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence.

And today I have agreed with the Secretary General a package of support to strengthen further our collective security, sending troops, planes and ships to defend NATO from north to south.

Earlier this week I met the Prime Minister of Lithuania and I will be travelling shortly to Poland.

And these are the countries where every day the population wakes up with an acute awareness of the threat just across their border.

And they are countries whose voices and views must be at the heart of every discussion we have.

Because I believe that if we can keep a strong grip on the fundamentals, those fundamental principles that define our alliance and combine strong deterrence with patient diplomacy, then we can find our way through this crisis.

But the stakes are very high and this is a very dangerous moment.

And at stake are the rules that protect every nation, every nation – big and small.

Thank you all very much.



PM meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg: 10 February 2022

Press release

Prime Minister Boris Johnson met NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to discuss the alliance’s response to Russian belligerence on Ukraine’s border.

The Prime Minister met NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg this morning to discuss the alliance’s response to Russian belligerence on Ukraine’s border.

The pair discussed the diplomatic efforts of NATO members and called on Russia to continue to engage in dialogue and move their troops back from the border with Ukraine.

The Prime Minister set out his plan to bolster UK military commitments to NATO, including by sending warships to Eastern Europe and increasing UK fighter jets stationed in south east Europe, to provide reassurance and support to allies in the region.

They agreed on the need for continued deterrence to complement diplomatic efforts, and the NATO Secretary General thanked the Prime Minister for his staunch support of NATO.

Without continued pressure on Russia by all NATO members, the Prime Minister said he feared for European stability and security.

The pair agreed to continue to work with all NATO allies to find a way forward.

Published 10 February 2022



British Deputy High Commissioner hosts reception for returning Chevening and Commonwealth scholars, underlines girls’ education

World news story

The British High Commission on Thursday organised a virtual welcome back reception for Pakistani scholars who were awarded the prestigious Chevening and Commonwealth scholarships 2020/21

British Deputy High Commissioner hosts reception for returning Chevening and Commonwealth scholars, underlines girls’ education

British Deputy High Commissioner Alison Blackburne welcomed the Pakistani scholars who have returned from the UK after completing a fully-funded one-year master’s programme. The event was attended by officials of the British High Commission, returning scholars, and Chevening alumni.

The Deputy High Commissioner congratulated scholars on completing their master’s degree and welcomed them into the British alumni family, which has around 10,000 members across Pakistan.

Chevening and Commonwealth scholarships bring together some of the brightest minds from across the world to UK’s renowned universities where they are able to realise their educational aspirations and experience all that the UK has to offer. The scholarship not only brings immediate benefits to individual scholars, but also delivers long-term benefits for both Pakistan and the UK.

British Deputy High Commissioner Alison Blackburne said:

The UK is committed to promoting quality higher education, particularly for women and girls. We have worked hard over the years to encourage more women to apply for Chevening scholarships, and more than half of the scholars last year were women. The scholars returning from their year of study have benefitted from world class education and also had the opportunity to learn more about the UK. They are part of the deep people to people ties which we are celebrating during this year marking 75 years of UK-Pakistan relations.

Notes to editors:

  1. Chevening is the UK Government’s scholarship programme. Since 1983, around 2,000 Pakistani have been awarded the Chevening Scholarship. The online application window will open next in August, to receive applications for the next academic year 2023-24. To apply and for more information please visit our website www.chevening.org

  2. The British High Commission supports inclusion, education and opportunity for all. Over the years, BHC has made efforts to encourage more women to apply, as a result of which female scholars have risen from just 6% in 2013 to around 60% last year. Anyone who has the ambition, curiosity, a clear vision for the future and the ability to achieve goals should apply for a Chevening Scholarship. Selected scholars will join a community of over 50,000 alumni worldwide.

  3. Prominent Chevening female alumni include: the first female judge in Gilgit-Baltistan High Court Amna Zamir Shah; Chairperson Special Talent Exchange Programme (STEP) Abia Akram; senior journalist Fifi Haroon; former members of the National Assembly of Pakistan Yasmeen Rehman, Asiya Nasir and Nafeesa Shah. In 2022, around 3,000 potential candidates applied for the Chevening Scholarship in Pakistan.

  4. Visit www.chevening.org/scholarships for detailed information on the eligibility criteria and scholarship specifications.

  5. The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) provides the main UK government scholarship scheme led by international development objectives. The CSC operates within the framework of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP), which was established in 1959 by an Act of Parliament.

  6. CSC uses rigorous procedures to ensure that its programmes promote equity and inclusion, reward merit, and deliver widespread access, especially to those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

  7. FCDO is CSC’s lead department and main sponsor, funding awards exclusively for candidates from low and middle income countries.

  8. For more information, visit Commonwealth website

For further update

For updates on the British High Commission, please follow our social media channels:

Contact
British High Commission
Islamabad
tel. 0300 500 5306

Published 10 February 2022