StirlingX appoints former GCHQ Director Sir Jeremy Fleming as Chairman to capitalize on momentum in role of drones, AI, and data in security and defense

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 defense, 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 defense and security for 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:
Defense
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 defense operations.

 Dual-use in critical national infrastructure (CNI)
Alongside its defense 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 organizations with end-to-end intelligence solutions that reduce cost, complexity, and risk.

“Drones deployed autonomously and at scale are going to change all our lives,” says Sir Jeremy Fleming, Chairman of StirlingX. “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.”

“Having Sir Jeremy as our Chairman underlines the importance of what we are building,” says Dean Jones, CEO of StirlingX. “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 defense partners and critical infrastructure operators.”