LIVE: General Sir Jim Hockenhull offers rare public praise for Special Forces in first speech as CSOC commander at DSEI

Welcome to our live coverage of DSEI 2025. Our reporters will be bringing you the latest updates from the flagship trade show over the course of the week.

Several key defence figures are expected to speak at the event, including General Sir Jim Hockenhull, the Commander of the newly-launched Cyber & Specialist Operations Command. Technological innovation is a key focus of this year's event, with the exhibition venue featuring an expanded tech zone.

Please keep refreshing this page to see the latest updates, and if you see our reporters on the ground, please say hello!

In pictures: Royal Marines band performs at DSEI

Always first to face the danger: General Sir Jim Hockenhull pays rare public tribute to Special Forces

General Sir Jim Hockenhull has taken the unusual step of publicly commending and paying tribute to the UK's Special Forces.

Speaking for the first time as Commander of the newly-formalised Cyber & Specialist Operations Command, he told attendees at DSEI: "I want to pay tribute to our Special Forces, Her Majesty’s Government’s special vanguard.

"They represent the very best of us - we ask remarkable things of them and they deliver again and again. 

"Their contribution to the UK here and abroad is multi-faceted, innovative and always decisive."

Gen Sir Jim also described the SF as "always first to face the danger."

Drones come of age, but traditional forces are irreplaceable, DSACEUR of NATO says

During his address at DSEI 2025, Admiral Sir Keith Edward Blount referenced a "coming of age" of drones and uncrewed systems but said that infantry and artillery are still irreplaceable.  

"This [Ukraine] war has seen remote and autonomous of various types operated at a scale not seen before, and that development of that scale has not been linear, it has been absolutely logarithmic," he said.

"Whether for surveillance, reconnaissance, loitering munitions, swarms of various sorts, precision targeting, they are all prevalent – and mass is the watchword."

In 2023, Ukraine made around 800,000 drones, but this year, that number is expected to reach five million.  

"Drones are conducting resupplies, medical support, casualty evacuation as well as direct attack.

"In Ukraine, 80% of Russian casualties are as a direct consequence of uncrewed systems," he told the audience.

However, Adm Blount also stressed the enduring value of artillery and infantry.

"27,000 artillery rounds are being fired everyday by Russia. This human dimension remains completely irreplaceable.

"Algorithms will not hold ground - infantry are essential," he said. 

Fuchs set to put enemies on the run thanks to new missile variant unveiled at DSEI 

The Fuchs armoured personnel carrier has been given a new role as a tank destroyer and air defence vehicle thanks to a link-up between Rheinmetall and Lockheed Martin.

The Fuchs (Fox) JAGM, which was unveiled to audiences at DSEI, sees the basic German Transportpanzer equipped with either 24 vertically launched AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missiles (JAGM) or AGM-114L Hellfire Longbow guided missiles.

According to its manufacturers, the vehicle can detect and engage multiple threats on the battlefield at any time. It's said to be capable of engaging up to 24 battle tanks, as well as air targets in rapid succession without the need to reload.

The Fuchs Evolution, the latest version of Rheinmetall's battle-proven and reliable 6x6 armoured transport vehicle, serves as the carrier vehicle for the missile system.

In British Army service, the Fuchs is equipped with automatic systems and sensors for detecting nuclear radiation, as well as CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) agents and other toxic substances.

Band of the Welsh Guards plays Star Wars theme

The band of the Welsh Guards has been keeping crowds at DSEI entertained with some classic tunes, including the theme from Star Wars. They are located in front of German frigate Sachsen.

We will slash red tape to fuel innovation at wartime speed, defence minister says

Lord Coaker has said that cutting red tape is important to fuelling innovation at wartime speed during his keynote address to DSEI 2025 at Excel London.

He also said that he wants to grow exports and onshore defence jobs, as it is an engine for growth.

The defence minister wants to turn defence into an industrial superpower by 2035.

Later, in a question-and-answer session, he added that Ukraine must have enough weaponry to fight against Russia. 

"I don’t want to read in papers, as I read a few months ago, that Ukraine had to retreat at one point [because it] didn’t have guns and bullets to fight with," he said. "We have to be able to ensure that our Armed Forces or friends and partners and those we support have the ability [to] fight if necessary."

In pictures: HMS Mersey among vessels attending DSEI 2025

HMS Mersey, HMS Example and the Belgian vessel BNS Pollux are among the vessels pictured so far at DSEI 2025. HMS Iron Duke was originally due to attend the event, but was unable to reach Excel London, where DSEI is taking place, due to silt in the Thames. 

Our full rundown of all the visiting ships that will be present at DSEI over the course of the week is available to read here.