The UK Government has announced that a new defence innovation body to boost military technology is set to be launched.

The chancellor, defence secretary, and business secretary have now confirmed that a new UK defence innovation organisation will work with innovative firms to get cutting-edge military technology into the hands of British troops more rapidly, and also grow high-tech British businesses in the defence tech ecosystem.

Developed as part of Defence Reform—the biggest overhaul of defence for more than 50 years—the new body aims to simplify and streamline the innovation within the Ministry of Defence (MOD).

The government said the body will take this new approach by “moving quickly and decisively, using different ways of contracting to enable UK companies to scale up innovative prototypes rapidly by setting out a clear pathway, working with the government, from initial production to manufacturing at scale.”

As part of the drive, the government will also look to increase investment in defence startups and scale-up technology and capability. This will be done through mechanisms including the National Security Strategic Investment Fund, as well as working with the venture capital and investment community.

The new unit will be launched at the Spring Statement towards the end of the month.

Defence secretary John Healey commented: “The world is changing, and we are changing defence. We will back the high-growth, high-tech UK defence firms of the future, to boost our national security and make defence an engine for growth.

“We will make the UK a defence innovation leader, funding and supporting firms of all sizes to take state-of-the-art technology from the drawing board to the production line, and into the hands of our Armed Forces.

“Defence has a crucial role to play in economic growth across the UK – built on the foundation of the largest sustained funding increase since the Cold War – to support thousands of highly skilled jobs.”

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Peter Kyle, the UK’s science and tech secretary, added: “Britain’s science and research expertise has always played a role in keeping us safe, and still does: from inventions like radar and codebreaking machines in the 20th century, through to innovations around drone technology and cybersecurity, today.

“We are dedicated to making sure the UK tech sector has everything it needs to continue to thrive, and to keep playing a critical role in our national security.”