AI in Action: Industry Leaders Reveal How Defence Will Transform by 2030

Artificial intelligence is already reshaping how armed forces design, deliver and evaluate learning. In the first AI in Action episode of 2026, Halldale Special Correspondent Andy Fawkes speaks with three leaders driving real adoption across the UK military training landscape: Adrian Morley (Project Selborne, Capita), Alex Smith (Raytheon UK) and Patrick Wyatt (Varjo).

Early in the discussion, Smith shares new developments that have not been publicly discussed before, revealing progress on an AI‑enabled module that integrates semantic search and LLM‑driven content discovery directly into structured training documentation such as Word and Excel files. 

The episode explores how this capability will enter pilot evaluation on a platform programme and how it aligns with Project Selborne’s modernisation work - make sure you listen to hear the full details.

Across Royal Navy shore‑based training, Project Selborne is already using AI to remove long‑standing bottlenecks. Morley outlines how scheduling optimisation, adaptive learning pathways, and AI‑supported instructor tools are helping the Royal Navy deliver well‑prepared personnel to the front line more rapidly through modular, competency‑based pathways.

Varjo’s Wyatt explores the hardware frontier, including AI‑enhanced XR with super‑resolution upscaling, real‑time scene segmentation, and drone‑based synthetic environment generation — all of which are improving realism, responsiveness and trainee immersion.

Despite the momentum, all three guests highlight the same challenge: defence must accelerate skills development, streamline governance and modernise procurement to keep pace with rapidly advancing AI capability.

With 2030 approaching quickly, the forces that adapt fastest will deliver the most effective training, the most agile workforce and the strongest operational readiness.