British defence companies seeking to equip UK Armed Forces with battlefield drones have warned that “red tape” is smothering efforts to build the weapons needed to confront Vladimir Putin in a future war.

Defence chiefs have signalled an urgent need for Britain to acquire cutting-edge drone technology, after this summer’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR) identified integrating cheaper and dispensable AI-enhanced robotic weapons systems into the Armed Forces as a key priority.

Ministers have announced an additional budget of £2bn for drones, with the aim of making Britain’s military “10 times more lethal” by combining the technology with more conventional and expensive platforms such as tanks and fighter jets. New Feature

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