UK kick-starts £125m missile defence development strategy
In a newly-released Prior Information Notice, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has unveiled its plans for a Missile Defence Research & Development Category Strategy.
The forthcoming project is aimed at establishing a strong and effective defence against evolving missile threats, such as ballistic and advanced hypersonic glide and hypersonic cruise missiles.
The initiative revolves around the five key pillars of missile defence, namely Counter-Proliferation and Arms Control, Deterrence, Counterforce, Active Defence, and Passive Defence.
The MoD, acting as the Contracting Authority, is primed to set the wheels in motion for a competitive procurement process. This will culminate in the awarding of a substantial contract for the provision of Missile Defence R&D.
The contract is categorised as a Framework (Services) contract. This long-term agreement, with a duration of six years, is estimated to be worth between £25 million and £125 million.
The notice was published under the auspices of ‘Find a Tender’, a public service that allows users to search and apply for tenders from UK public sector organisations, including central government departments, non-departmental public bodies, local authorities, and NHS trusts.
The MoD has yet to release the specifics of the competitive procurement process. However, the substantial value of the contract is indicative of the importance placed on the project and its potential impact on the UK’s future defence capabilities.
