A contract for the accelerated development of disruptive
weapon technologies has been awarded by the Defence Science
and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) to QinetiQ.
The £300 million Weapons Sector Research Framework (WSRF)
contract will run for five years with the aim of providing
the armed forces with the battle winning technology to
fight future conflicts. It succeeds the Weapons Science and
Technology Centre (WSTC) contract, and offers a broader
range of research activities including directed energy,
complex and conventional weapons technologies.
The contract will run as an Enterprise Approach
collaboration between Dstl, industry and academia.
Stakeholders will work together, planning, tasking and
delivering accelerated weapons science and technology
(S&T) research.
Defence Minister said:
“The Weapons Sector Research Framework will give top
researchers in industry and the public sector more
opportunities to innovate. As we continuously refine our
response to rapidly evolving threats, we must be disruptive
and strategic: exploiting technology and ensuring our armed
forces are prepared.
“I am pleased that this contract will also build industry
relationships, making our innovative research work fuller
and more collaborative.”
The WSRF will work with the supply base to encourage
innovation and growth throughout the contract’s lifespan. A
Community of Interest (COI) across the supply chain of
industry, academia and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
will also spur the development and maintenance of essential
UK technical capabilities, weapons critical expertise and
facilities.
Chief Executive of Dstl, Gary Aitkenhead said:
“As the science inside UK defence and security Dstl’s
research delivers clear military and strategic advantage
for our armed forces. We reduce risk to our forces by
delivering technology with increased effectiveness and
range. We have seen a growing demand from customers for our
advice, assurance and research which create new game
changing capabilities for defence. We are proud to have
delivered affordable and effective solutions to our
customers that have saved lives and money, as well as
supporting the growth of the UK economy. The WSRF brings
together our key partners, SMEs and academia to develop the
solutions defence and security need in a fast-evolving
world.”
Steve Fitz-Gerald, Group Managing Director for Maritime and
Land at QinetiQ said:
“We are immensely proud to be supporting Dstl and the wider
defence enterprise to deliver a framework that ensures the
UK benefits from the best thinking and innovation. The
enhanced scope of the WSRF will allow the generation of new
capability, getting battle winning equipment and technology
into the hands of the warfighter at pace, and enable the UK
to counter the evolving threats to our sovereignty and
prosperity.”
QinetiQ and Dstl are now progressing to the mobilisation
phase of the new framework.
