REG-Defence Holdings Plc: Launches Sovereign Software Capability Accelerator and Provides Operational Update

Defence HoldingsAnnouncement

Today 07:02

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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