DSTL trials Assured Intent Messaging, a common language for British strike missions

The UK’s DSTL has trialled Assured Intent Messaging, a new common language developed by the lab. Assured Intent Messaging is a digital messaging language designed to facilitate communication between different types of platforms and weapons. Its goal is to increase the speed of find and strike missions for British forces.

By Sam Cranny-Evans, editor of Calibre Defence, published on May 6, 2026.

The UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) has developed and tested a new digital language called Assured Intent Messaging. According to a May 5 press release, the new messaging system was used in trials with industry partners in the US back in March.

The goal is to “significantly speed up how military forces detect threats and strike targets,” the press release states. It adds that the design of the system helps commanders to better coordinate ITAR and weapon systems.

During the tests in the US, a single operator controlled several different systems simultaneously. This included systems that were in service, as well as experimental ones. And a range of capabilities from sensors, uncrewed platforms, target designation systems, and ground-launched missiles.

Using the Assured Intent Messaging language, the systems could be connected and talk to each other. “This was the first real-world test of the AIM common messaging language built specifically for networked ‘find and strike’ operations,” the press release states.

It adds that ten industry partners took part in the exercise and that the standard will be published in mid-May. This will enable industry to use the Assured Intent Message standards in their products, facilitating future integration.

Why does Assured Instant Messaging matter?

There is a range of digital messaging protocols that are used to pass communications between devices. These are often selected by the software developers of a product to achieve a specific purpose. It might be that they want a walled garden, where only the devices using the company’s protocol can talk to each other. Or it might be to reduce power consumption, for example. Typically, there is some form of middleware that translates languages enabling devices from different manufacturers to talk to each other.

In previous experiments, like the British Army’s Project ASGARD, those connections were addressed through adaptation and advanced preparation. Some systems, like Systematic’s command and control system can use a multitude of protocols. This enables them to act as the central node for communication between systems to some extent.

However, DSTL’s Assured Intent Messaging aims to build a common standard that can be used by all systems. This would enable them to talk to each other in a more effective and efficient way.

One other element to consider is the language’s design. DSTL states that it reduces message sizes to the smallest possible data packets. Data packet size is important because forward-deployed communications networks are likely to be limited in bandwidth. Choking that bandwidth through sending video footage, for example, will have impacts on everybody else.

It also complements DSTL’s Sensing for Asset Protection with Integrated Electronic Networked Technology (SAPIENT). SAPIENT is a similar standard designed to enable communication between sensors and through artificial intelligence modules. It has been adopted by the British MoD as the standard for counter-UAS sensors. Assured Intent Messaging complements SAPIENT, allowing data to be passed between sensor networks and strike systems.

Calibre comment: The foundation of autonomous operations

Note the DSTL press release states one operator controlled several different systems. This indicates that Assured Intent Messaging can support the one-to-many paradigm, which is essential for scaling uncrewed platforms in hybrid formations. The UK is making steady progress in this regard, including recent contracts with Arondite and ARX Robotics for C2 and UGVs respectively. The DSTL standard could also provide value at sea and in the air, where the UK is introducing a range of uncrewed platforms. So, this is an important update from the UK’s defence laboratory as the country grapples with the future structure of its forces.

If you’d like to read up on some of the UK’s uncrewed projects, check out the links below:

• RAPSTONE: Arondite secures contract to deliver Cobalt to 16 Air Assault
• RAPSTONE: ARX secures contract for Gereon UGVs
• Project ASGARD; the British Army’s path to doubling lethality

The lead image shows LELANTOS (now known as AGILE C2) being used on Exercise Cerberus 2022. Assured Intent Messaging could support C2, providing connectivity between sensors and weapons to improve targeting cycles. Credit: Cpl Morris RLC/UK MOD © Crown copyright 2022.