Countering Illegal Use of UAS Around Prisons and Sensitive Sites

Seeking low-collateral solutions to counter hostile Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS), used for contraband delivery, surveillance near prisons and sensitive sites.

Competition Document: Countering Illegal Use of UAS Around Prisons and Sensitive Sites

Example Competition Contract

Details

Introduction

This UKDI (UKDI) competition is run on behalf of Ministry of Justice (MOJ), His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), Ministry of Defence (MOD), the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), Home Office, Police, Innovate UK and wider UK security stakeholders.

It is seeking proposals that offer innovative, low-collateral solutions to counter or defeat hostile drones targeting secure sites and locations. Drones, or ‘uncrewed aerial systems' (UAS), pose a growing challenge when used for contraband delivery, surveillance and disruption near prisons, sensitive sites or critical national infrastructure, including in congested urban areas.

The end-users for the solutions would include HMPPS security teams , MOD, police, law enforcement agencies, and operational staff,  these groups need solutions to work alongside existing ‘last line of defence' technology that are activated when other mitigation measures fail. This competition focuses on two competition challenge areas:

Challenge 1: Higher TRL Solutions

• must reach technology readiness level(TRL) 7 by the end of the project.
• maximum project length is within 3-6 months

Challenge 2: Medium TRL Concepts for Future Capability

• must reach TRL 4 or 5
• maximum project length 12 months

Competition key information