Military News Today

Source: UK Defence Journal

The MOD (Ministry of Defence) has awarded a contract valued at £350,000, focusing on the development of navigation systems for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in environments where Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) are denied.

The notice was published as part of defence sector procurement through the Find a Tender service.

The contract aims to address the operational challenges faced by military UAS in scenarios where GNSS signals are unreliable due to potential jamming, spoofing, or disruption. Recognising the importance of robust and resilient navigation capabilities in such situations, the MoD seeks to “de-risk and help develop complete systems that can one day fill this void.”

The award has been divided between two suppliers: Blue Bear Systems Research, located in Bedford, and Syos Aerospace, based in Tauranga. Each supplier has been allocated £172,500 to contribute to this initiative. The competitive procurement process attracted a total of five offers.

The project’s objective is to create a system capable of functioning seamlessly “in all possible scenarios including over land, over sea, in night and day, and in poor visibility,” independent of GNSS services which are “likely to be jammed, spoofed or disrupted.”

Whilst the duration and specific delivery terms of the project were not detailed in the notice, the award reflects the MoD’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the technological capabilities and operational resilience of its UAS fleet in the face of evolving threats and challenges.