Rotorcraft Concepts and Tactical Aviation Research

Tender description

To address the future challenges of operating in complex military environments, there is a need to continue research and development of aviation concepts and technologies as MOD looks forward to replacing a number of existing capabilities in the latter part of the 2030’s and beyond. Dstl requires a Delivery Partner to collaborate in the development and maturation of concepts and technologies for future rotorcraft, and tactical aviation in Contested, Degraded and Operationally-limited (CDO) environments. The expectation is that the Delivery Partner construct will consist of a suitable organisation to lead a group of companies in a consortium-based approach to benefit from a broad range of relevant expertise, concepts and technologies across the UK industry base. Lot 1: In particular, the Delivery Partner will support Dstl to: • Identify concepts for future rotorcraft systems that will deliver military effect in the land and maritime environments. • Develop and demonstrate the key novel technologies that enable future rotorcraft concepts to be realised. • Underpin the understanding of future concepts and novel technologies through analysis and assessment. • Build on current research to mature and demonstrate technologies required by future tactical aviation to achieve Freedom of Action and Manoeuvre (FoAM) in a CDO environment. Key areas of potential interest are listed below. This is an indicative list only and is not exhaustive; it is not a commitment that all of the topic areas listed will be exploited, and some additional topics may be identified as the project matures: • In-cockpit assistance, autonomy, and automation of crew tasks which supports situational awareness, decision making and threat awareness during all phases of flight and while operating singly or in formations. • The use of automation of tasks to enable a reduction in the number of crew required to operate future generation aircraft. • Enablers for multi-domain teaming with aviation platforms to deliver find, attack and lift capabilities into the land and maritime environments. • Communication concepts that enable timely and effective information exchange between platforms and systems into a fused information picture, thus improving battlespace awareness. • Development of an evaluation environment that enables the integration and combined benefits of key enabling technologies to be demonstrated in a suitably representative CDO environment. • Future force mixes & equipment to maximise effectiveness and deliver scalable integrated effects. • Improved operational efficiency and capability resilience through digital engineering methods. • Use of autonomy in optimising aviation force effectiveness and the people component of the force. It is intended to conduct an Early Engagement event in mid-2022, hosted by Dstl, to provide an opportunity for interested Industry organisations to gain further information of the requirement and Dstl expectations prior to the formal tendering stage. Additional information: Additional Information: Suppliers interested in working with the Ministry of Defence should register on the MOD Supplier Information Database (SID) Register, available at www.contracts.mod.uk. The MOD SID is a database of active and potential suppliers available to all MOD and UK Defence procurement personnel, and is the main supplier database of MOD Procurement organisations. Please note: the reg