---
title: "715004451.1 Project VOLLEY (launcher)"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-052c8a"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-052c8a"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-052c8a.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-052c8a.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE"
published: "2025-06-04"
---

# 715004451.1 Project VOLLEY (launcher)

Buyer: MINISTRY OF DEFENCE  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-052c8a

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## Summary

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) in the United Kingdom is in the planning stages of a procurement process concerning Project VOLLEY (launcher), focusing on unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UAVs) and military research and technology within the defence services category. This process entails an Industry Day scheduled for 18th June 2025 in London, with registration closing on 11th June 2025. The procurement involves a rapid-launching capability for UAVs, intending to procure over 20 launchers to be delivered by January 2026. The procurement process encourages collaboration amongst companies and will lead to a Dragon's Den style competition on 1st August 2025, with field demonstrations slated for October 2025. The MOD anticipates proposals that meet stringent operational requirements and production capabilities, emphasising a scalable production solution with a unit price under £300k.

This tender presents significant business opportunities for manufacturers and developers within the defence technology sector who specialise in UAV launch systems. Companies with expertise in developing rapid deployment and recovery systems, especially those capable of operating under demanding environmental conditions, will find this opportunity particularly beneficial. The MOD's encouragement of consortia formation allows partnerships between businesses, enabling collaboration to meet complex requirements, and expand their capabilities. Businesses that can innovate and adapt existing technologies to fit the MOD's precise criteria will be well-positioned to benefit from this procurement exercise.

## Notice

This Prior Information Notice serves to inform Industry about a Project VOLLEY (launcher) Industry Day and to invite registration for the event. Additional information: Requirement Rapid launching of multiple fixed-wing Uncrewed Air Vehicles (UAV), from a single launcher, including set-up, firing and recovery time. Technical Launcher Requirement The launcher must be able to launch at least 5 reference UAVs within 4 minutes of the first UAV launch and recover within a maximum of 10 minutes from that first UAV launch, from a static and level position. The overall launcher must require a minimal set up time and then launch the UAVs after it has been instructed to do so by the User. There should be no more than a 1-minute interval between each launch o Assume: launch UAV 1 @ time zero; UAV 2 launches at ~60 seconds; UAV 3 launches at ~120 secs; UAV 4 at ~180 secs and UAV 5 will be launched within ~240 seconds of the first launch. o Assume: that Reference UAV requires no set up / prep of any sort; noting in real world that the UAV set up time might be the limiting factor to the above ideal "launch per minute." * Able to launch the 5 reference UAV airframes to at least 60m/s (200km/h) (to provide anticipated margin beyond stall speed of high speed UAS). o Assume: No thrust contribution from the UAV during launch. o Assume: The UAV will not make use of any rocket assisted take off (RATO) boosters or any other launch mechanism other than the Pj VOLLEY launcher. * The reference UAV has the following characteristics: o A maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of no more than 125kg. o A max wingspan of approx. 3300mm; a max length of approx. 2500mm and max height of approx. 500mm. Assume: UAV OEM will provide a UAV/Launcher adapter specific to their UAV designed to meet specification set by the Launcher OEM. Operational Requirement * The launcher (including loading the UAV(s) onto the launcher - manually or automatically) must require a minimal crew to operate - ideally one and no more than three. * Set-up (ideally tool-less) and operable in day / night / all weathers / while gloved & using NVGs etc. * The User requires the launcher to be mobile and easy to deploy, use, and recover in a wide range of environmental conditions (day/night, in temperatures from -20 to +55 degrees Celsius and operate reliably in rain and dust equivalent to IP45). * The User will use the launcher in a high threat environment with persistent enemy surveillance; therefore, it must create a minimal signature (acoustic, heat, visual) when used e.g. hiding in plain sight. * The entire launcher system must be robust, simple to assemble and capable of launching numerous UAVs without replacement of high wear / perishable parts. Able to withstand jet efflux, fuel spills, handling damage, etc. * The same launcher design must be able to launch UAVs of smaller size than the reference drone described above. In practice, this means being able to vary the amount of total energy (and speed) the launcher imparts to the UAV. * System launch angle must be easily adjustable to account for various UAV launch/ take off characteristics; assume minimum inclination of 8 degrees and up to a maximum of 30 degrees. * System must be transportable by vehicle; Large body sprinter truck (threshold) or regular transit van equivalent (objective). * Weight of the full system should not exceed 275kg Launcher Solutions that should not be presented: * Autonomous launchers i.e. UAV launcher system must be operated by a human crew. * Solutions that will not be ready for UK field demonstration / testing in October 25. * RATO launch solutions. We do not necessarily need to be presented with a complete solution. If your product answers part of this VOLLEY challenge problem statement, we encourage you to participate. Project VOLLEY is not interested in purchasing drones that comply with the "reference UAV" outline. Production Capacity and Pricing Subject to satisfactory demonstration, a large number (>20) of launchers are anticipated to be needed approximately 6 months from Industry Day / launch of competition. A production launcher solution must have a unit price of

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029939-2025 |
| Notice type | Planning Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 4 Jun 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Planned |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | MINISTRY OF DEFENCE |
| 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 |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 35 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment
- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 35613100 - Unmanned combat aerial vehicles
- 73410000 - Military research and technology

## Release History

- 4 Jun 2025 at 13:59 - Planning - Planning Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029939-2025

## Notice URLs

- https://contracts.mod.uk/esop/guest/go/opportunity/detail?opportunityId=59904
- https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=7WB3vlNZS0iuldChbfoJ5a5yEC87bndDi9PKmMmNOy9UMllBM1VYNEVaUTVPR0pNTVgyTkdRR044VC4u

## 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-052c8a. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-052c8a.json.