PR Newswire
LONDON, United Kingdom, February 17
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
17 February 2026
London, UK
Defence Holdings PLC
(«Defence Holdings» or the «Company»)
Defence Holdings Launches Sovereign Software Capability Accelerator and Provides
Operational Update
Defence Holdings PLC (LSE: ALRT), the UK’s listed software-led defence
technology company, today announces the launch of the Defence Holdings
Accelerator, a structured programme designed to identify, harden and deploy
early-stage sovereign software capabilities into UK and allied defence
environments.
The Accelerator builds on Defence Holdings’ existing delivery model under
Defence Technologies and expands the Company’s ability to engage earlier with
high-potential software and AI technologies aligned to live operational demand.
In parallel, the Company provides an operational update on Project Ixian.
Highlights
● Launch of a structured Accelerator programme focused on sovereign
software, AI and data capability
● Designed to progress mission-aligned technologies from prototype to
Defence-ready deployment
● Provides SMEs with access to senior Defence stakeholders, validated
problem statements and integration pathways
● Enables disciplined capital deployment into technologies with clear
operational demand
● Builds on Defence Holdings’ PLC structure, hyperscale partnerships and
senior Defence relationships
● Directly aligned with the Strategic Defence Review’s emphasis on faster
capability translation and software-defined defence
Strategic Significance
The pace of software innovation now materially exceeds the tempo of traditional
defence procurement. Many high-impact capabilities originate in SMEs and founder
-led ventures that move at speed but lack structured access to senior defence
stakeholders, secure architecture support, or credible routes to adoption.
The Defence Holdings Accelerator has been established to address this gap. It
provides a repeatable mechanism for:
● Identifying technologies aligned to validated operational requirements
● Embedding them within secure sovereign architectures from inception
● Providing structured evaluation pathways into defence environments
● Deploying capital selectively where operational demand and delivery
feasibility are demonstrated
The programme is a capability-first accelerator focused exclusively on sovereign
software and AI aligned to live defence priorities.
By operating as a London-listed vehicle with established hyperscale
relationships and senior defence engagement, Defence Holdings is uniquely
positioned to:
● Provide governance, compliance and credibility that early-stage SMEs
cannot achieve alone
● Connect emerging capability directly to end-user networks
● Retain UK-sovereign control of data, intellectual property and export
pathways
● Align capital deployment with validated operational pull rather than
speculative innovation
In doing so, the Accelerator positions Defence Holdings as a structured conduit
between sovereign innovation and operational deployment, engaging high-potential
capability earlier in the innovation cycle and translating it into deployable
outcomes at pace.
This model reflects the increasing reality that advances in software, data and
AI originate outside traditional procurement pathways and require secure,
credible routes to operational adoption.
By focusing on capability outcomes rather than corporate structures, the
Accelerator reduces delivery risk and shortens the path from innovation to
operational relevance.
Crucially, the Accelerator is designed to build directly alongside end users
within Defence environments, not developing capability in isolation and handing
it over at the point of delivery, but co-creating solutions with operators from
the outset. This approach ensures relevance, accelerates validation, and
materially reduces the gap between concept and operational deployment
Alignment with UK Defence and National Security Priorities
The launch of the Accelerator reflects a structural shift in defence delivery.
The Strategic Defence Review and allied initiatives have emphasised the need
for:
● Faster translation of software capability into operational effect
● Greater engagement with SMEs
● Reduced dependency on slow, hardware-led procurement cycles
● Increased sovereign control over digital infrastructure and IP
At the same time, Defence Holdings is experiencing growing inbound engagement
from defence stakeholders seeking earlier visibility of emerging software
capability.
The Accelerator formalises this pull, and allows Defence Holdings to move
upstream in the innovation cycle, identifying and shaping capability before it
enters rigid procurement pathways, while maintaining discipline, sovereign
architecture and commercial clarity.
This timing positions the Company to capture early-stage innovation precisely as
defence systems move toward software-defined operating models.
Defence Technologies remains the Company’s primary sovereign software delivery
platform, progressing classified programmes and hyperscale integrations. The
Accelerator expands the pipeline feeding that platform.
Capabilities matured through the Accelerator may:
● Integrate into Defence Technologies’ sovereign software stack
● Progress as standalone deployments under Defence Holdings
● Be scaled through joint ventures or structured commercial partnerships
This layered model increases optionality while preserving capital discipline and
sovereign control.
Andy McCartney, Chief Technology Officer of Defence Holdings, commented:
«The Accelerator model is rooted in lived experience. Our leadership team has
taken frontier technologies from early-stage concept through to institutional
deployment in some of the most demanding environments. We understand the
discipline required to scale, commercially and operationally. This model
combines venture-speed execution with the delivery standards expected in
sovereign Defence contexts, ensuring innovation translates into real
capability.»
Project Ixian Update
Project Ixian continues to progress in line with Company expectations. Activity
is advancing through established UK Defence technical, security and commercial
protocols consistent with delivery within classified operational environments.
The Company will provide a further update at the earliest point at which
disclosure is permitted under applicable Defence and regulatory constraints.
Exercise of Warrants and Update on ATM Facility
The Company has received notices from a warrant holder to exercise warrants over
a total of 46,693,028 ordinary shares of £0.001 each in the Company («Ordinary
Shares»). Accordingly, the Company will issue 46,693,028 new Ordinary Shares to
the warrant holder.
Admission and Total Voting Rights
Application will be made for the 46,693,028 Warrant Shares, which will rank pari
passu with the existing Ordinary Shares in issue, to be admitted to trading on
the London Stock Exchange Main Market («Admission»). Dealings are expected to
commence on or around 20 February 2026.
Following Admission, the Company’s total issued and voting share capital will
consist of 2,473,485,974 Ordinary Shares. The Company does not hold any
ordinary shares in treasury.
Therefore, the above figure may be used by shareholders in the Company as the
denominator for the calculation by which they will determine if they are
required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the
share capital of the Company under the FCA’s Disclosure Guidance and
Transparency Rules.
Update on ATM facility
Further to the announcement dated 05 February 2026, Fortified Securities has
successfully raised additional gross proceeds of £41,450.00 (the «ATM Proceeds»)
for the period ending 06 February 2026. Settlement of the ATM Proceeds has now
been completed.
Following these ATM-related sales, Fortified Securities’ shareholding has
decreased from 111,500,000 shares (4.59% of the issued share capital) to
109,000,000 shares (4.49% of the issued share capital).
Taking into account the ATM Proceeds announced on 31 October 2025, 14 November
2025, 18 December 2025, 5 February 2026 and those announced today, the Company
has now raised total gross proceeds of £754,567.49 under the ATM facility.
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