The Ministry of Defence has streamlined the approval process for operating uncrewed aerial systems on UK military bases, with over 90% of applications now cleared in under 30 days. In high-priority cases, the turnaround time is less than 24 hours, according to Defence Minister Luke Pollard.
In response to parliamentary questions from Conservative MP James Cartlidge, the minister explained that the Military Aviation Authority (MAA) has adopted a more agile approach to licensing the use of reconnaissance drones on defence property.
“The approvals process is proportionate to the operating intent and level of risk to life posed,” Pollard said. “The majority of MOD UAS used for airborne reconnaissance on MOD bases are small ‘Open category’ UAS requiring submission of a limited safety checklist for MAA approval.”
The current policy treats approvals as a one-off licensing process for a specific drone type, rather than requiring separate permissions for each flight. This shift is intended to reduce bureaucracy and enable quicker deployment of small drones for surveillance and training tasks.
However, approval for weaponised or so-called ‘kinetic’ drones remains more complex. Timelines depend on factors including system maturity, risk to life, and the safety mitigations in place. Pollard said the MAA’s procedures are grounded in safety but designed to keep pace with evolving defence requirements. “The agile approach adopted by the MAA has been welcomed,” he told Parliament.
As part of ongoing regulatory alignment, the Ministry of Defence is transitioning to the use of the term “Uncrewed Air System” in place of older terminology such as “drone” or “Remotely Piloted Air System,” in line with NATO and international standards.