A £31 million contract for highly specialised engineering support
for the Future Combat Air Systems (FCAS) programme has been
awarded to UK Defence firm – QinetiQ.
Under a three-year contract, the Aurora Engineering Delivery
Partnership (EDP) led by QinetiQ, will provide technical support
to FCAS and the Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S)
Catalyst delivery team, which is responsible for delivering the
latest combat air capabilities to UK frontline commands.
The contract will support around 45 jobs based in Bristol,
Boscombe Down, Farnborough, Malvern, Bath and Lincoln.
, Minister for Defence
Procurement said:
The Future Combat Air Systems programme continues to make good
progress, as demonstrated by this latest engineering contract. I
am delighted that highly skilled UK industry personnel will lend
their support and expertise to the programme, as we work together
to deliver a next-generation fighter jet for the future.
The delivery will also include the EDP partners Atkins and BMT,
along with a number of subcontractors in the EDP provider
network.
Richard Berthon, Director Future Combat Air,
added:
This contract with Aurora and QinetiQ is a demonstration of our
commitment to working with the UK’s leading defence technology
companies on FCAS. Their expertise will be vital to the programme
as we work at pace to deliver a next-generation combat air
capability by 2035.
Nic Anderson, Chief Executive UK Defence, QinetiQ
said:
The Aurora Engineering Partnership with the UK MOD and DE&S
continues to go from strength to strength, providing technical
support to the most complex acquisition programmes. Our work with
Catalyst DT will help accelerate new ways of working using
digital engineering methodologies in supporting the next
generation of combat air platforms.
Work carried out by the Aurora Engineering Partnership led by
QinetiQ will enable DE&S to deliver essential engineering
strategies for future FCAS capabilities. The partnership will
provide engineering support - initially focusing on Human
Performance, Safety and Systems Engineering disciplines.
The FCAS programme currently employs around 2,500 highly skilled
people across the UK including at combat air sector industrial
hubs in Scotland, the north-west and south-west of England. The
programme now employs 1,000 apprentices and graduates, offering
attractive employment opportunities in STEM subjects such as
industrial digitisation, artificial intelligence and data
analytics.
Tempest, a highly advanced future fighter, is due to enter
service in 2035, operating at the heart of a wider Future Combat
Air System. Tempest was announced at the 2018 Farnborough
International Air show and since then, has made significant
progress with a flying demonstrator currently being built and the
‘Generation Tempest’ initiative being launched to create early
careers job opportunities across the UK.
