Executive summary
Techmodal has played a critical role in helping the Defence AI Centre (DAIC) move from strategy to operational impact. Embedded within DAIC’s core team and working alongside Defence Digital and PJHQ, we have supported a series of pioneering projects—ranging from LLM-powered SIGACT extraction to the deployment of MOD’s first GPT-based chatbot.
Our data scientists and AI specialists are not just technologists—they are embedded partners shaping how Defence experiments, adopts, and scales AI. This case study highlights how our people, insight, and technical leadership are helping transform the MOD into an AI-ready organisation.
Overview
The DAIC exists to champion, enable and innovate AI across UK Defence—driving experimentation, developing tools, and helping frontline users and business units adopt AI safely and effectively. Since its inception in 2022, the DAIC has grown into a strategic hub for AI capability across the MOD, supporting use cases that span from operational decision-making to enabling technologies.
Techmodal has supported this mission from the start. Our embedded team began by building demonstrators as part of the wider Defence Digital Analytics Platform (DDAP) programme. As DAIC matured, we transitioned into an enduring partnership—delivering multiple AI and LLM projects that continue to shape MOD’s understanding of what good AI looks like, and how to build it.
The Challenge
For Defence to become AI-enabled, it needs more than just access to models—it requires trusted platforms, usable tools, and the skilled people to translate innovation into operational outcomes.
DAIC faced several key challenges:
- Reducing manual data processing for time-critical teams like PJHQ
- Building confidence in AI outputs through transparency and repeatability
- Exploring how LLMs and agentic systems could improve both back-office efficiency and front-line insight
- Developing future-ready capabilities that align with MOD’s cloud-first and data-centric strategy
Our approach
Embedded capability with a mission mindset
Techmodal data scientists were embedded as part of the DAIC delivery team, supporting PJHQ, DAIC-Cap, and DSTL. This close collaboration enabled fast iteration, agile experimentation, and a deep understanding of Defence context.
Experimentation and delivery across a range of AI projects:
The outcome
Techmodal’s embedded team continues to help DAIC and its partners experiment safely and deliver at speed. Outcomes include:
- LLM tools that save hours of analyst time and support operational awareness
- Pipelines and demonstrators that reduce manual processing and improve decision relevance
- Trusted relationships with end users, from PJHQ to DSTL
- Early AI infrastructure and methods that align with Defence’s evolving strategy
Our work directly contributes to DAIC’s goal of improving tempo, reach, and resilience across Defence by enabling trustworthy AI.
What makes Techmodal different
- Embedded from the beginning – Our team was present at the birth of DAIC, building the first data science demonstrators within Defence Digital and shaping what AI delivery looks like in Defence.
- Trusted delivery at pace – From MOD-GPT to SIGACT, we’ve been entrusted with highly visible, high-impact projects that combine technical depth with operational sensitivity.
- More than just developers – Our people understand Defence, speak the language of analysts and end users, and build tools that integrate into real workflows—not just showcase tech.
- Aligned to the future – We build for scalability, flexibility, and security. Our work supports the MOD’s data strategy and creates foundations for secure LLM use and AI decision support at scale.
AI that works in the real world.
We support Defence teams to move beyond experiments — building and deploying AI tools that integrate with mission systems, support analysts, and enhance decision-making at pace.
If you need AI that is practical, secure, and operationally credible — we’re ready to collaborate.
