Company Announcements

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014, as retained as part of the law of England and Wales. Upon the publication of this announcement via the Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
14 August 2025

London, UK

Defence Holdings PLC

("Defence" or "the Company")

Defence Holdings and Whitespace Sign LOI in Landmark Sovereign AI Infrastructure Agreement

Defence Holdings PLC (LSE: ALRT), the UK's first listed software-led defence company, has signed a Letter of Intent ("LOI") with Whitespace, a leading UK technology company specialising in AI infrastructure for defence, national security, and regulated public sector operations.

The LOI sets out the intent to form a long term, strategic partnership that will accelerate the development and deployment of sovereign, software-first capabilities across UK and allied defence environments. This move supports Defence Holdings' five-year strategic plan to build deployable software infrastructure at the speed and scale modern threats demand.

Key Highlights

●    Whitespace's technology is already operational within classified defence environments, including deployment on a UK naval platform, and is trusted within secure national security programmes.

●    Whitespace is a founding member of Oracle Defense Ecosystem, giving Defence Holdings access to a multinational network of defence-aligned innovation.

●    Strategic partnership enables immediate development on Collective OS, a trusted AI Operating System already integrated into defence and government settings.

●    Accelerates Defence Holdings' Five-Year Plan by embedding proven sovereign AI infrastructure into its product development strategy.

●    Unlocks deeper relationships across defence agencies, primes, and national security partners through Whitespace's established footprint.

●    Initial deployments targeted this financial year, with focus areas including autonomous decision-making, secure intelligence analysis, and multi-domain situational awareness.

Strategic Rationale

As the global defence sector shifts from hardware-led to software-first, demand is growing for deployable AI solutions that meet military-grade standards of trust, auditability, and resilience. Traditional contractors are struggling to adapt fast enough, creating space for sovereign, software-native players.

The strategic partnership will combine Defence Holdings' domain expertise with Whitespace's proven infrastructure to accelerate delivery of next-generation defence applications, including:

●    Autonomous decision support systems

●    Secure intelligence analysis and threat detection

●    Multi-domain situational awareness platforms

●    Adaptive cybersecurity for critical infrastructure

This collaboration enhances Defence Holdings' ability to rapidly build and deploy software-led capabilities while meeting the stringent requirements of defence-grade security, compliance, and interoperability.

Whitespace Credentials

Whitespace is a UK-based AI infrastructure company delivering trusted, regulated deployments across defence, intelligence, and public sector environments. Its platform, Collective OS, is used within live Ministry of Defence programmes and national security environments to safely deploy AI at the tactical edge. The company is also a founding member of the Oracle Defense Ecosystem, supporting allied efforts to accelerate secure AI adoption across defence domains.

Whitespace's technology powers AI deployed on a UK warship and is already integrated into secure government networks, offering Defence Holdings immediate access to infrastructure, credibility, and active partner channels across the national security community.

Updated Presentation

A new corporate presentation providing further detail on the Company's strategy and the Whitespace strategic partnership is now available on the Defence Holdings website.

Leadership Commentary

James Norwood, Chair of Defence Holdings, commented:

"This strategic partnership marks a pivotal moment for Defence Holdings. Together with Whitespace, we are integrating operationally proven AI infrastructure into our platform, creating the foundation to deliver sovereign software capabilities at real speed and scale. It's a major leap forward and positions us to move at the pace modern defence demands."

Andrew McCartney, Senior Non-Executive Director of Defence Holdings added:

"We're at an inflection point in how defence capabilities are conceived, built, and deployed. The era of AI-native, software-first systems is here. This strategic partnership gives us the ability to rapidly deliver trusted, deployable infrastructure into defence settings where speed, auditability, and mission alignment are non-negotiable. It's a powerful alignment of mission, technology, and timing and I'm thrilled to help lead the charge."

The strategic partnership will be formally established following final legal agreement in the coming days. Joint development projects are expected to begin immediately, with initial commercial deployments targeted within the current financial year. This alliance places Defence Holdings at the forefront of the software-led defence transition, pairing trusted AI infrastructure with operational agility and mission-led focus.

About Defence Holdings PLC

Defence Holdings PLC (LSE: ALRT) is the UK's first listed software-led defence company. Its five-year strategic plan focuses on delivering sovereign digital capabilities across national security, resilience, and defence readiness.

Media Enquiries
Brian Stockbridge, Director
Defence Holdings PLC
Tel: +44 (0)20 3855 5551 · Email: press@defencetechnologies.com