The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced plans to shift its legacy technology systems to a new cloud infrastructure as it prepares to adopt new AI capabilities.

It said the move will allow the government department to modernise its systems with AI and make more effective use of data to strengthen the UK’s national security.

To achieve its objectives, the MoD has extended its agreement with Oracle to migrate its workload to the technology company’s cloud infrastructure.

The MoD is currently focused on enhancing operational efficiency, improving decision-making capabilities, and effectively leveraging technology and data for national security.

By becoming an AI-ready organisation and treating data as a strategic asset, the MoD said it aims to improve the effectiveness and agility of its global military operations while driving greater innovation across defence activities.

Victoria Cope, commercial director at the MoD, said that the plans reflect its multi-vendor strategy to leverage the “best available technologies” to deliver operational outcomes and greater efficiency.

“This agreement also includes a commitment to digital skills development, education and social value investment supporting the wider Defence and UK Government agenda to build a digitally skilled workforce,” she continued.

In February last year, the MoD announced it had successfully trialled a range of technology, including robotic dogs designed to aid with bomb disposal.

The government said at the time that the technology would significantly reduce risk to military personnel both in the UK and overseas.

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) trials involved a series of scenarios where the robot was asked to perform various tasks including opening and closing doors autonomously, navigating stairs, inspecting improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and firing disruptors at the IEDs to render them safe.

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