StirlingX appoints former GCHQ Director Sir Jeremy Fleming as Chairman to Capitalise on Momentum in Role of Drones, AI and Data in Security and Defence

StirlingX, the UK-based drone and data intelligence company, has appointed Sir Jeremy Fleming KCMG CB, former Director of UK intelligence, cyber and security agency GCHQ, as its Chairman. Sir Jeremy’s appointment marks a significant milestone in StirlingX’s mission to deliver secure, advanced drone and data analytics technologies for defence, critical infrastructure, and commercial applications. Through his leadership in national security and cyber strategy, he will guide the company as it scales secure, UK-manufactured technology for domestic and allied markets.

The appointment comes at a time when the role of drones and autonomous systems is being transformed in defence and security for both nations and corporates. The ability to deploy AI-powered coordinated drones cost-effectively, and gather and process the data from them, is critical to advantage on the battlefield, and central to security and efficiency for civilian operations.

Founded by veterans of UK specialist military units and intelligence agencies, StirlingX designs and manufactures its drones, autonomous systems and data analytics technologies in Britain, ensuring security, resilience, and independence from adversary-sourced components. Its technologies are engineered to operate in the most demanding environments, where trust, reliability, and performance are mission critical.

The use cases for StirlingX’s technology include:

Defence

StirlingX is advancing technologies in the field of autonomous robotics and data analytics that help the military see, understand, and act faster on the battlefield. Their systems use these capabilities to collect information, detect threats, and counter hostile drones. In practice, this means building tools that improve how armed forces gather intelligence, defend against electronic threats, and stay a step ahead in complex environments. The StirlingX technologies enable:

• Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR)
• Electromagnetic Warfare (EW)
• Counter-UAS

StirlingX, which is actively engaged in tendering with the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD), is focused on supporting the UK’s 5-EYES partners while engaging with NATO and democratic allies worldwide. Its systems, validated in contested and complex environments, are designed to meet the evolving demands of modern defence operations.

Dual-Use in Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

Alongside its defence work, StirlingX applies the same resilience and innovation to critical national infrastructure (CNI) and commercial markets. From surveying offshore wind farms to monitoring transport corridors and securing energy assets, StirlingX provides organisations with end-to-end intelligence solutions that reduce cost, complexity, and risk.

Sir Jeremy Fleming, Chairman of StirlingX, said: “Drones deployed autonomously and at scale are going to change all our lives. They’ll help keep us safe, give us real-time intelligence pictures, and transform the battlefield. StirlingX is at the forefront of that revolution, providing sovereign capability that delivers vital real-time data, powered by AI to identify emerging threats and generate critical advantages over adversaries. I look forward to working with the excellent StirlingX team to further accelerate their impressive progress and prospects.”

Dean Jones, CEO of StirlingX, said: “Having Sir Jeremy as our Chairman underlines the importance of what we are building. StirlingX was founded on the principles of precision, trust, and resilience learned in the UK’s most demanding operational environments. Today, those same principles drive our mission to provide secure intelligence solutions for our defence partners and critical infrastructure operators.”

Sir Jeremy Fleming was Director of GCHQ from April 2017 to May 2023. He transformed the organisation into a globally leading cyber institution, establishing the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and founding the National Cyber Force (NCF) —significantly enhancing the UK’s sovereign cyber capabilities.

The NCF is a joint mission between GCHQ and the UK Ministry of Defence that leads the world in applying cyber effects to protect the UK and its allies. Under Jeremy’s leadership, GCHQ played a central role in pivoting the UK’s response to state threats, supporting Ukraine as it resists Russia’s invasion, and in better preparing the UK for the challenges and opportunities of an increasingly assertive China. His distinguished career began at MI5 in 1993, where he led critical operations, including the strategic response to the 2005 London terrorist attacks and security preparations for the London 2012 Olympics.