# British Army drone technology and procurement > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/british-army-drone-technology-and-procurement > Updated: 2026-09-26T06:37:53.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2. The British Army is advancing its unmanned aerial capabilities through both technological experimentation and large-scale procurement. Initial efforts focused on the Software Defined Swarms Concept Demonstrator, an eight-week test involving the Swarm Capability Test Bed. Developed by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory in collaboration with industry partners, these trials tested “true swarming” capabilities, where groups of unmanned aerial vehicles are commanded as a single collaborative unit for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. Parallel to these technological developments, the Army has utilized Project Rapstone, a fast-track procurement program, to acquire over 10,000 drones. This initiative prioritizes pilot training, specifically focusing on manual first-person-view (FPV) flight without GPS to prepare soldiers for electronic warfare environments. These efforts are part of a broader strategic goal to double the Army’s fighting power by 2027. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-26: British Army procures 10,000 drones for pilot training The British Army has acquired over 10,000 drones through Project Rapstone, focusing heavily on manual FPV pilot training to prepare for environments where GPS and automated aids are unavailable. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/british-army-procures-10000-drones-for-pilot-training ### 2026-09-17: British Army tests autonomous drone swarm technology The British Army has completed eight weeks of trials testing autonomous drone swarm technology designed for collaborative command in intelligence and reconnaissance roles. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/british-army-tests-autonomous-drone-swarm-technology --- Cite as: British Army drone technology and procurement. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/british-army-drone-technology-and-procurement