---
title: "CMWS AAR-57, ALQ-157 and ALE 47 In Service Support"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-051b8e"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-051b8e"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-051b8e.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-051b8e.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DEFENCE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT"
published: "2025-09-24"
---

# CMWS AAR-57, ALQ-157 and ALE 47 In Service Support

Buyer: DEFENCE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-051b8e

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## Summary

The procurement process for the "CMWS AAR-57, ALQ-157 and ALE 47 In Service Support" contract is facilitated by Defence Equipment and Support, a central government public authority based in Bristol, United Kingdom. It falls under the industry category of defence and security services, focusing on military defence services. The procurement process's latest stage is the award stage, with a contract valued at approximately £56 million excluding VAT, for a period starting from 1st February 2028 to 31st January 2032, with an option to extend for a further two years. This direct award contract has been granted to BAE Systems, due to technical reasons, as BAE is the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for the systems, and is currently integral to their maintenance and support to ensure continued operational validity.

This tender offers significant opportunities for BAE Systems, highlighting how specialised knowledge in defence systems can create business growth through exclusive contracts. The contract’s reliance on technical expertise and existing infrastructure by BAE demonstrates a clear path for large enterprises with specialised capabilities to secure long-term service contracts in the defence sector. With the requirement for in-service support, maintenance, and procurement of spares for critical military systems, companies possessing unique technical data and manufacturing expertise related to such security and defence materials are best suited for such strategic partnerships. Although this particular contract with Defence Equipment and Support is directly awarded to BAE Systems, the ongoing demand for high-security standard compliance and bespoke system integration into military platforms underlines the potential value of businesses developing niche skills in similar high-stakes industries.

## Notice

Program Managmenet, Repairs including material purchases, Technical Support, Procurment of spares & ground support equipment and Tasking for CMWS, ALQ 157 and ALE47 & M157 CMDS inc Post Design Services

### Procurement Information

Defensive Aids Delivery Team, part of the Ministry of Defence ("the Authority"), intends to enter into a contract with BAE Systems Ltd ("BAE") for the through-life support of ALE-47/M-147 Countermeasures Dispensing System (CMDS), ALQ-157 Infrared Countermeasure System, and AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning System (CMWS) including maintenance, technical engineering support, training, procurement in support of ALE-47/M-147 Countermeasures Dispensing System (CMDS), ALQ-157 Infrared Countermeasure System and AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning System (CMWS) and associated spares provision. These systems are mandated as Theatre Entry Standard (TES) equipment, used across several platforms in line with customer requirements. The length of the new contract will be four years with a two year option (4+2). The approximate value of the Contract is estimated to be PS56 million ex VAT including the exercise of the option years. In accordance with Section 41(1)(a) of the Procurement Act 2023 (the "Act"), the Authority intends to rely on the Single Supplier direct award justification, as set out in Paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 of the Act, to award a public contract directly to BAE, a supplier that is not an excluded supplier. It is considered that a Direct Award is permissible under the Act on the basis that, due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only BAE can carry out the services and there are no alternatives to those goods, services or works. Only BAE can supply the services for the following reasons: BAE is the OEM for all three systems, ALE-47/M-147 Countermeasures Dispensing System (CMDS), ALQ-157 Infrared Countermeasure System and AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning System (CMWS) and are currently providing in-service support including maintenance. Only BAE has the necessary technical information to be able to perform this requirement. Their continued technical expertise, technical data and manufacturing expertise is necessary to ensure that the system remains fully operational and compliant with evolving threat environments. ALE-47/M-147 Countermeasures Dispensing System (CMDS), ALQ-157 Infrared Countermeasure System and AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning System (CMWS) is integrated into specific aircraft platforms, with bespoke configurations tailored to each platform's operational requirements. BAE is the only supplier with the detailed technical information necessary to ensure seamless integration and compatibility with existing systems. ALE-47/M-147 Countermeasures Dispensing System (CMDS), ALQ-157 Infrared Countermeasure System and AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning System (CMWS) is a safety-critical system, and any modifications or maintenance must comply with stringent airworthiness and safety standards. BAE, as the OEM, is the only supplier with the relevant technical information and system expertise to be able to ensure safety/airworthiness requirements are met. Accordingly, due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, BAE is considered as the only supplier that can provide the services and there are no reasonable alternatives to those services as required by the Authority. The contract will not be awarded to an excluded or excludable supplier, a Contract Award Notice and Contract Details Notice will follow in accordance with Procurement Act 2023. Risk Assessment Ref: RAR-250814A03 Cyber Risk Profile: Low

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/059338-2025 |
| Notice type | UK5 - Transparency Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Planning, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 24 Sep 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 21 May 2025 |
| Award date | 24 Sep 2025 |
| Contract period | 1 Feb 2028 - 31 Jan 2032 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £42,158,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £56,000,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Pending |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DEFENCE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT |
| Locality | BRISTOL |
| Post town | Bristol |
| Postcode | BS34 8JH |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLK5 West of England |
| ITL 3 | TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire |
| Local authority | South Gloucestershire |
| Electoral ward | Stoke Park & Cheswick |
| Westminster constituency | Filton and Bradley Stoke |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | BAE SYSTEMS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 50 - Repair and maintenance services
- 75 - Administration, defence and social security services

### Codes

- 50600000 - Repair and maintenance services of security and defence materials
- 75221000 - Military defence services

## Release History

- 24 Sep 2025 at 14:13 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/059338-2025
- 21 May 2025 at 14:41 - Planning - UK1 - Pipeline Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/024151-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/059338-2025
  24th September 2025 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/024151-2025
  21st May 2025 - Pipeline notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/defence-equipment-and-support
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-051b8e. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-051b8e.json.