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Defence Holdings PLC (LSE: ALRT) announced on 18 June 2026 that its capability acceleration programme, for which applications opened on 15 June 2026, will now operate under the official identity "Meridian". The company simultaneously launched a dedicated digital platform at www.meridianbydefenceplc.com to provide detailed information on the programme.
18 June 2026
London, UK
Defence Holdings PLC (LSE: ALRT), the UK's software-led defence technology group, today announces that its capability acceleration programme, which opened for applications on 15 June 2026, will operate under the official identity "Meridian".
The Company has also launched a dedicated digital platform at www.meridianbydefenceplc.com providing founders, partners and stakeholders with access to detailed information on the programme's operating model, participation criteria, application process, ecosystem partners and future milestones.
Highlights
· Defence Holdings' capability acceleration programme unveiled under the Meridian identity
· Dedicated digital platform launched providing access to programme information, participation criteria, ecosystem partners and future milestones
· Applications open for the programme's first participants
· Meridian designed to provide emerging defence and dual-use technology companies with access to customer insight, capital support and operational infrastructure
Meridian forms part of Defence Holdings' broader strategy to identify, support and accelerate emerging defence and dual-use technologies capable of addressing operational requirements across defence, national security and resilience markets. The commencement of the programme represents a further milestone in the execution of the Defence Holdings Playbook and the Company's strategy of supporting the development and deployment of emerging sovereign capability.
Programme Rationale
The evolving nature of modern conflict is increasing demand for emerging technologies across areas including artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, cyber, intelligence and critical infrastructure resilience. As a result, defence organisations are increasingly seeking access to innovation originating from smaller, specialist technology companies.
Many promising technologies possess strong technical capability but often lack sufficient proximity to customer requirements, access to appropriate sources of capital and the operational infrastructure required to support commercial and operational deployment. This frequently creates a situation where investors seek evidence of customer demand, while customers seek evidence of commercial maturity before committing to engagement.
Meridian has been established to help address these challenges by bringing together customer access, capital support and operational infrastructure within a single framework.
Meridian has not been designed as a traditional accelerator programme. The Company intends to work with a limited number of carefully selected participants, reflecting the specialised nature of defence and national security markets and the programme's emphasis on long-term capability development rather than cohort scale.
Selection criteria will focus on technologies capable of addressing meaningful operational requirements across defence, national security and resilience markets and supporting the development of emerging sovereign capability.
Programme Ecosystem
The commencement of Meridian follows the Company's recently announced partnerships with Oracle and IMSL, which together establish important elements of the programme ecosystem.
As previously announced, Oracle serves as Meridian's hyperscale cloud partner, while IMSL supports the programme through procurement framework access, accredited operating environments, bid support and specialist operational expertise.
Meridian is also intended to provide Oracle Defence Ecosystem members with an accelerated pathway into the programme, creating additional opportunities for emerging technology companies seeking to establish or expand their presence within the UK defence and national security market.
Together, these partnerships provide foundational components of the infrastructure underpinning Meridian and support Defence Holdings' objective of helping emerging defence and dual-use technology companies progress towards commercial and operational deployment.
Digital Platform
Applications for Meridian are now open through the programme's dedicated digital platform at www.meridianbydefenceplc.com.
The platform serves as the primary point of engagement for founders, partners and stakeholders, providing access to programme information, participation criteria, ecosystem partners, application processes and future programme milestones.
The programme is designed for emerging defence and dual-use technology companies developing capabilities with the potential to address operational requirements across defence, security and resilience markets.
Applications will be reviewed by Defence Holdings and relevant programme partners against a range of factors including strategic relevance, technology applicability, commercial potential and the extent to which participation in Meridian could accelerate the company's path towards customer engagement, contract award and operational deployment.
The Company intends Meridian to work with a limited number of carefully selected participants, reflecting the programme's emphasis on tailored support and long-term engagement.
Andrew Roughan, Chief Executive Officer of Defence Holdings, commented:
"Meridian has been established to help address a challenge frequently encountered by emerging defence and national security technology companies: gaining sufficient proximity to customer requirements, access to appropriate sources of capital and the operational infrastructure required to support deployment.
Over recent weeks we have announced foundational partnerships with Oracle and IMSL. Today's announcement brings those components together under the Meridian identity and provides founders, partners and stakeholders with access to a dedicated platform outlining the programme, its operating model and participation process.
We look forward to working with the first companies entering Meridian and continuing to expand the ecosystem around the programme as we support the development of emerging sovereign capability."
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.
Website: www.defencetechnologies.com
Media Enquiries
Name - Director, Andrew Roughan
Defence Holdings PLC
Tel: +44 (0)20 3855 5551 · Email: [email protected]