Navy drone project kept quiet to protect advantage

The UK Ministry of Defence has declined to identify Royal Navy platforms, contract duration or future procurement decisions associated with Project HORUS, citing the need to protect operational advantage. Defence Minister Luke Pollard told Parliament that HORUS supports an urgent operational requirement, an acquisition mechanism used when a capability must be provided faster than normal procurement processes allow. The response followed questions seeking details of the equipment currently under contract and its possible replacement. The existence and purpose of the project are acknowledged, but neither the platforms involved nor a firm future procurement timetable has been published.