Launching the AI Model Arena
The Defence AI Centre (DAIC) is introducing the AI Model Arena - a secure, standardised platform to evaluate AI models against real Defence use cases. Built with UK AI company Advai, the pilot aims to speed up how Defence spots credible solutions and moves them into procurement.
The promise is simple: clear standards, fair testing, and faster decisions. For government teams under pressure to deliver, this means less waiting and more certainty about what actually works.
Why it matters for government teams
- Objective triage: A practical "demonstration by doing" route into the Defence Tech Scaler and innovation pathways.
- Faster engagement: Assess up to 100 models at once and return constructive feedback so suppliers can iterate quickly.
- Clear signals: Communicate priority Defence use cases and initial requirements ahead of deeper pre-deployment testing.
How the Arena evaluates models
The AI Model Arena is vendor-neutral and secure. It scores models against four critical categories based on Defence standards such as JSP 936: performance, reliability, resilience, and security.
- Performance: Accuracy and task fit against mission needs.
- Reliability: Consistent behaviour across conditions and data shifts.
- Resilience: Tolerance to stress, edge cases, and adverse inputs.
- Security: Resistance to attacks, leakage, and misuse.
Up to 100 suppliers can enter a phased down-selection, ensuring the strongest options move forward with data to back them.
Built on proven pilots
This approach builds on work with the Royal Navy, Advai, and the Accelerated Capability Environment (ACE), where Defence ran independent, side-by-side testing of multiple AI models. The result: more confident procurement decisions while managing risk in mission-specific scenarios.
Impact on procurement and capability
- Earlier identification of promising models and suppliers, reducing bottlenecks for commercial and technical teams.
- Automated checks consistent with Action 43 of the AI Opportunities Plan (2025), delivering similar insight to intensive reviews in far shorter timelines.
- Faster movement from trial to operational evaluation, giving warfighters access to advanced AI capabilities sooner.
- Support for SDR priorities by using technology and innovation to maintain UK Defence's strategic advantage.
Standards, fairness, and a stronger UK AI ecosystem
The Arena's vendor-neutral process levels the playing field and highlights where UK SMEs have an edge. That supports a stronger, sovereign AI ecosystem while maintaining security, compliance, and operational readiness.
What suppliers should prepare now
- Evidence against Defence standards (e.g., alignment with JSP 936 criteria and security practices).
- Model cards and documentation covering training data, evaluation methods, failure modes, and intended use.
- Safety testing results (e.g., adversarial tests, red-team findings, and mitigations).
- Data governance: logging, retention, traceability, and auditability.
- Operational readiness: deployment approach, support model, and routes for rapid iteration from feedback.
Leadership perspective
"This initiative is central to our ambition to adopt AI responsibly and at pace, ensuring we maintain a strategic advantage in an increasingly competitive landscape. I encourage all AI suppliers to engage with the AI Model Arena. This is your opportunity to showcase your capabilities, drive innovation, and help shape the future of Defence AI." - Commodore Rachel Singleton, Head of DAIC
Timeline and next steps
The pilot offers a scalable answer to procurement challenges-improving performance, boosting confidence, and delivering advanced AI to warfighters on shorter timelines. DAIC is aiming for the Model Arena to be live by DAIC Connect 2026 in March.
Suppliers: prepare your evidence, align with Defence standards, and be ready to iterate. Follow the DAIC on LinkedIn for updates.
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