Planning

Autonomous Collaborative Platform Tranche 2

DE&S

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

29 Jul 2025 at 16:37

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

29 Jul 2025 at 16:20

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Defence (MOD), through its Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) branch based in Bristol, UK, is currently in the planning stage for the procurement process titled "Autonomous Collaborative Platform Tranche 2". This project falls within the industry category of non-piloted aircraft and aims at enhancing the UK's defence capabilities. A Preliminary Market Engagement Notice (PMEN) is scheduled with a due date of 12th September 2025, and interested parties are encouraged to register for future updates. The planned procurement process, with a target start date in April 2027, involves a significant investment with a gross value of £24 million and is outlined as part of the UK's Strategic Defence Review to include a mix of crewed and uncrewed combat air platforms.

This tender presents substantial opportunities for businesses involved in the aerospace and defence industry, particularly those specialising in autonomous systems, EW effects, and innovative air vehicle technologies. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are well-suited to compete due to the project's emphasis on agile and cost-effective solutions, particularly in developing autonomous solutions and signature-managed air vehicles. Engaging with this procurement process can offer businesses a chance to collaborate with the MOD and contribute to evolving combat air capabilities within the UK, providing growth opportunities by tapping into future technological advancements and defence requirements.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Autonomous Collaborative Platform Tranche 2

Notice Description

In March 2024 the MOD published the RAF Autonomous Collaborative Platforms Strategy that defines the RAF's vision for procurement of ACPs to support their future capability requirements. In May 2025 the MOD announced the delivery of StormShroud Mk1 into service, marking the first ACP to be formally delivered to the RAF. In June 2025 the MOD published the Strategic Defence Review which recommended "the RAF must stay at the leading edge of combat air's evolution, through the transition from exclusively crewed combat air platforms to a Future Combat Air System (FCAS) with a mix of crewed, uncrewed, and increasingly autonomous platforms" and that "to assure the future of UK combat air, investment in ACPs should be considered alongside investment in FCAS and the Global Combat Air Programme. The ACPs must be designed to operate in collaboration with the fourth-, fifth- and future generations of combat aircraft and to operate from the UK aircraft carriers".

Planning Information

The purpose of this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice (PMEN) is to help the MOD capture information and insights into the current, and future, ACP industrial landscape for a specific set of systems. This will assist the MOD to: a. Understand new systems which are coming to market; b. inform the viability of capability requirements, timescales and costs; c. develop outline procurement strategies for any future acquisition of these systems; d. shape our understanding of programme delivery and associated risk There are currently 4 systems which the MOD would like to understand, these are: a. Electromagnetic Warfare (EW) Effects. A complete EW Effects capability should include all equipment and services required for the User to deliver EW effects against adversary Integrated Air Defence Systems, including but not limited to; Air Vehicles, EW Payloads, Ground Equipment (including control systems) and end-to-end Logistics Support. b. Signature Managed Air Vehicle. Air Vehicles that have signature managed characteristics or capabilities to reduce detectability by Integrated Air Defence Systems. c. One Way Air Vehicle. Cost-effective disposable one-way vehicles that can carry a variety of EW and kinetic payloads, and also be manufactured rapidly at scale. d. Electromagnetic Warfare Payloads. EW payloads that deliver effects across the electromagnetic spectrum to disrupt, deny, degrade, or destroy enemy systems. e. Autonomous Solutions. Solutions that enable varying levels of autonomy, or the fully autonomous Command and Control of Uncrewed Air Systems (UAS). To register your interest in this PMEN please follow this link to AWARD: https://award.commercedecisions.com/dsp/web/project/db45400b-f9a0-4a50-b61e-02d5deeff60c/register

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-056872
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/044033-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

CPV Codes

34711200 - Non-piloted aircraft

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£20,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
29 Jul 20256 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
27 Apr 20263 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
28 Apr 2027 - 29 Apr 2029 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DE&S
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
descommercial-acp@mod.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
BS34 8JH
Post Town
Bristol
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK5 West of England
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
South Gloucestershire
Electoral Ward
Stoke Park & Cheswick
Westminster Constituency
Filton and Bradley Stoke

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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