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UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement - Royal Navy Type 93 Extra-Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (XLUUV) and AUKUS Signature Payload Programme Preliminary Market Engagement: Invitation to Register Interest

Ministry of Defence

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

12 Oct 2026 at 12:10

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Defence, through the Royal Navy, is developing the Type 93 Extra-Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (XLUUV) capability and AUKUS Pillar II Signature Payload programme. Its market-engagement work is intended to build understanding of the market and wider supplier ecosystem for large uncrewed underwater vehicles, associated payloads and enabling functions. Relevant areas include vehicle platforms, payloads, autonomy, artificial intelligence, mission-management systems, integration and through-life support. The Navy is initially considering platforms around 2 metres in diameter and 12 metres long, while also welcoming interest in platforms of other dimensions. The programme supports the integration of autonomous and uncrewed maritime capabilities into a Hybrid Navy. The buyer is the UK Ministry of Defence; delivery locations are not identified.

This is at the planning stage: the Royal Navy is seeking supplier interest for preliminary market engagement, not inviting tenders or committing to a future procurement. Organisations registering may be considered for later workshops, individual meetings, industry days or written requests for information; the Navy may invite a limited number to further engagement, while written responses from others may also inform its market understanding. Participation is voluntary, at each organisation’s own cost, and does not pre-qualify suppliers or confer an advantage or disadvantage in a later competition. Registration responses were asked for by 29 October 2026 at 17:00 GMT, though registration was to remain open during the engagement programme. The buyer’s planning period runs from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2028. The stated £1 value and 12-month duration are nominal, not confirmed contract terms.

The engagement is relevant to suppliers across the uncrewed underwater vehicle supply chain, including platform manufacturers, payload developers, autonomy and AI specialists, mission-management software suppliers, systems integrators and through-life support providers. Small and medium-sized enterprises are identified as suitable, and companies with platforms outside the Navy’s initial approximate 2-metre-diameter, 12-metre-length dimensions are also encouraged to register. The Royal Navy is looking for market insight across these areas to help shape capability requirements, future engagement and programme planning, including its AUKUS Pillar II Signature Project priorities. Registration information must be classified OFFICIAL. Any organisation considering involvement should account for the voluntary, self-funded nature of engagement and should treat participation as market consultation, not a route to pre-qualification or a promise of a contract.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement - Royal Navy Type 93 Extra-Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (XLUUV) and AUKUS Signature Payload Programme Preliminary Market Engagement: Invitation to Register Interest

Notice Description

The Royal Navy is inviting organisations to register their interest in preliminary market engagement for the Type 93 and AUKUS Signature Payload Programme. The Royal Navy seeks to improve its understanding of the market and wider ecosystem for Extra-Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (XLUUV) platforms, associated payloads, and enabling functions. This activity supports the development of the Type 93 capability and the Royal Navy's commitments under the AUKUS Pillar II Signature Project. The purpose of the registration of interest is to gather a comprehensive list of interested suppliers for XLUUV market segments and the wider ecosystem. This includes, but is not limited to: XLUUV platform providers, payload providers, relevant technology and software suppliers including Autonomy, AI and Mission Management Systems, integrators, through-life support providers, and other relevant suppliers. Suppliers who register their interest through this notice may be invited to participate in subsequent preliminary market engagement activities, including but not limited to, collaborative workshops, 1:1 meetings, industry days, and written requests for information (RFIs). Responses will be used to inform requirements development, and future market engagement and wider programme planning. The Royal Navy is initially considering platforms approximately 2 metres in diameter and 12 metres in length, however organisations offering platforms of other dimensions are also encouraged to register. This notice should not be considered as a commitment from the Royal Navy to progress with any future procurement activities. The programme directly aligns with the Strategic Defence Review (SDR), Defence Investment Plan (DIP) and AUKUS Pillar II priorities, supporting the transition to a Hybrid Navy through the integration of autonomous and uncrewed maritime capabilities. The value of PS1 and contract duration of 12 months should be regarded as nominal and will be updated via future notice(s) as the programme progresses, figures and dates mature, and are subsequently confirmed.

Planning Information

By registering interest, organisations confirm they are content to be contacted and engaged by the Royal Navy for preliminary market engagement activity. This registration is not a commitment by the Royal Navy or the organisation to participate in any future procurement activity. The Royal Navy will use the registered list of interested organisations and stakeholders to keep them informed about the programme and notify them of future engagement opportunities. Organisations should access and complete the registered interest form using the following Microst Forms link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/nj6YzhQSRi Responses should aim to be submitted by 29 October 17:00 (GMT) 2026, however, registration will remain open during the preliminary engagement programme. If you have any questions, they can be sent to NavyDev-Type93-Commercial@mod.gov.uk. All information provided in the form should be at classification: OFFICIAL. Following the review of registration responses, the Royal Navy may invite a limited number of organisations to further preliminary market engagement activity. Involvement will be based on relevance to the event themes and the need to obtain useful and representative market insight. Organisations not invited to a workshop may still have their written responses considered for market-engagement purposes and will not be precluded from further engagement.   Participation in all preliminary market engagement is voluntary and at each organisation’s own cost. Participation does not constitute pre-qualification and will confer no advantage or disadvantage in any potential future procurement. This notice should not be considered as a commitment from the Royal Navy to progress with any future procurement activities.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078582
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096028-2026
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

35 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment

50 - Repair and maintenance services

CPV Codes

34930000 - Marine equipment

35512400 - Unmanned underwater vehicles

50640000 - Repair and maintenance services of warships

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
12 Oct 2026Today
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2028 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Ministry of Defence
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
WHITEHALL, LONDON
Postcode
SW1A 2EU
Postcode Area
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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