The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014, as retained as part of the law of England and Wales. Upon the publication of this announcement via the Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
4 September 2025

London, UK

Defence Holdings PLC

("Defence" or "the Company")

Defence Technologies to Unveil First Classified AI Product with UK MOD at DSEI 2025

Magnificent 7 collaboration embeds research-driven AI and hyperscale resilience into Defence Technologies' first product

Defence Holdings PLC (LSE: ALRT), the UK's first listed software-led defence company, will unveil to the global defence community at DSEI 2025 its first AI product, already in active development for the UK Ministry of Defence ("MOD").

The product is being developed by Defence Technologies, the newly branded platform formed through Defence Holdings' strategic partnership with Whitespace Global Limited ("Whitespace"), a leading UK deep-technology company specialising in AI infrastructure for defence, national security, and regulated public sector operations.

The first product is being developed in collaboration with one of the world's Magnificent 7 technology leaders. Engineers from Whitespace and the hyperscale partner are working side by side to integrate its cloud infrastructure, built natively for AI workloads, directly into the build.

While the partner cannot be named at this stage due to disclosure restrictions, it is one of the world's most recognised technology companies, with infrastructure already embedded across governments, defence, and critical industries worldwide. Defence Holdings anticipates providing further details in future announcements as the collaboration progresses.

This joint approach ensures hyperscale performance, resilience, and security are embedded from day one, positioning Defence Technologies as one of the very few emerging defence platforms able to operate at the same scale as the primes. By leveraging infrastructure already trusted globally, the platform is not only sovereign and secure, but also proven to operate at allied scale.

Key Highlights

●    First AI product underway for the UK Ministry of Defence, marking a commercially significant opportunity with long-term deployment potential.

●    Defence Technologies' first product is strengthened by a Magnificent 7 hyperscale partner, whose collaboration with Whitespace ensures sovereign-grade scalability, resilience, and security are embedded from day one.

●    This will be the first product to launch under Defence Technologies, the platform housing Defence Holdings and Whitespace's strategic partnership for defence and national security.

●    Framework in place to co-develop a wider portfolio of sovereign AI applications on Whitespace's Collective OS platform, addressing mission-critical use cases including secure intelligence fusion, multi-domain situational awareness, and protection of critical national infrastructure.

Strategic Significance

The unveiling of Defence Technologies' first product at DSEI marks a defining moment in the partnership's trajectory. Defence Holdings is not talking about future intent, it is already actively building for the UK Ministry of Defence, with a number of additional product discussions now underway across priority domains. This activity demonstrates that the Company is being trusted with some of the most urgent challenges in UK defence today.

Equally significant is the role of a Magnificent 7 hyperscale partner, working directly with Whitespace's engineering team on this first product. Their AI and cloud infrastructure underpins some of the world's most advanced data-driven systems and is increasingly embedded across government and national security environments. By drawing this capability into the Defence Technologies platform, the product is being built on infrastructure already relied upon by global innovators, critical industries, and allied governments, embedding credibility, resilience, and scalability from day one.

Together, these two milestones position Defence Holdings as one of the very few UK companies with the credibility, partnerships, and market access to build sovereign AI applications at the speed and scale demanded by modern defence. This first product is the foundation of a wider portfolio designed to transform how the UK and its allies generate, deploy, and sustain digital capability on the front line.

Leadership Commentary

Andrew McCartney, Chief Technology Officer of Defence Holdings, commented:

"Our first product proves that Defence Holdings can move faster than the traditional defence cycle and from vision to operational capability in record time. Through Defence Technologies, we are embedding sovereign AI into the heart of defence where it matters most. The scale of what we can deliver, secure, deployable software that can run at the tempo of modern operations, sets a new benchmark for UK defence"

James Norwood, Chairman of Defence Holdings, said:

"Announcing our first product at DSEI is a defining step for Defence Holdings. It demonstrates how quickly we can move from strategic intent to execution, delivering sovereign applications that are trusted, resilient, and globally scalable."

About Defence Holdings PLC (ALRT)

Defence Holdings PLC (LSE: ALRT) is the UK's first listed software-led defence company. Its five-year strategic plan focuses on delivering sovereign digital capabilities across national security, resilience, and defence readiness.

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Media Enquiries
Brian  Stockbridge, Director
Defence Holdings PLC
Tel: +44 (0)20 3855 5551 · Email: press@defenceplc.com