Drone Major has unveiled what it describes as the world’s first fully managed procurement services platform dedicated to the global drone and robotics sector.
Announced in London, the system is designed to streamline how organisations source, contract and deliver unmanned systems capabilities, while opening the door for far greater participation from UK Small and Medium-sized Enterprises.
The company says the new platform will allow buyers and suppliers to fast-track major programmes by consolidating procurement, compliance, project management and supply-chain execution into a single coordinated service. The intention is to remove barriers that have historically prevented smaller domestic enterprises from entering large and complex defence and critical infrastructure projects.
Drone Major has expanded its existing supplier ecosystem following its milestone approval from the UK Civil Aviation Authority earlier this year for the first beyond visual line of sight drone operations over Critical National Infrastructure. That work has provided the company with regulatory and operational experience it now plans to embed into its procurement service.
Founder and Chief Executive Robert Garbett said the UK possesses deep reserves of technical talent that have struggled to reach frontline programmes due to fragmented procurement routes.
He commented: “The UK has the talent and technologies, many of which reside within our own SME base, but it has lacked the mechanism to bring them to the front line effectively. The launch of our new platform marks a major step forward in empowering British SMEs and startups, giving them a powerful tool to navigate and simplify complex procurement processes in the drone industry.
“The platform will “help place the UK at the forefront of the global drone industry, while also strengthening the UK’s supply chain independence.”
The global drone and robotics market is forecast to rise from £55 billion in 2024 to £121 billion by 2030, according to industry estimates. Drone Major argues that this growth curve makes better alignment between buyers and innovative suppliers essential if the UK is to compete internationally.
At the centre of the offering is a business-to-business marketplace that links vetted suppliers with procurement opportunities in drones, robotics and wider unmanned systems. Drone Major will run the end-to-end procurement cycle, evaluating bids, selecting vendors and managing regulatory approvals, logistics, quality assurance and final delivery.
