QinetiQ has a significant role in UK FRES programme

In excess of £5m of business already won with further work expected

QinetiQ has been successful in winning in excess of £5m of business in support of elements of the UK MOD’s Future Rapid Effect System (FRES) Technical Demonstrator Programmes, to be delivered over the next 18 months. FRES is the MODs largest land systems programme ever undertaken and it appointed Atkins last year as the lead Independent Systems House (ISH) for the 24 month initial assessment phase.

Commenting on its involvement in FRES and the recent awarding of these contracts, Fiona Lewinton, MD for QinetiQ’s Land Division said: “QinetiQ will play a key role in delivering many elements of the FRES programme. Our understanding of the requirements and our historic involvement in defence research and technology development gives us a unique perspective that enables us to deliver real value and help deliver an important medium force capability.”

QinetiQ is involved in a number of the FRES ‘Rainbow Teams’ providing subject matter expertise that supports the Systems House systems engineering process. This role is key to the success of the integrated technology acquisition plan and the overall acquisition strategy. QinetiQ is also involved in the delivery of a number of elements of the Technology Demonstrator Programme which include:

QinetiQ is teamed with Lockheed Martin UK INSYS and SAIC to deliver the electronic armour programme. The scope of this programme addresses the maturity of electric armour technology, defines and assesses constraints and determines the principles for its integration, should it prove to be sufficiently mature. QinetiQ will define the electrical specification for the demonstrator and undertake the integration of the hardware. It will also conduct verification trials plus investigate the interface with the Electronic Architecture and the Systems Integration Laboratory.
Teamed with BAE Systems (Land Systems Bridging) QinetiQ will be in involved in delivering the gap crossing programme. The scope of this programme will focus on a new light-weight assault bridge based on two separate designs; a stretched version of current technology and a new design using composite materials. Each design aims to improve bridge packaging for air transportation together with fast under-armour deployment, recovery and re-deployment. QinetiQ will undertake the design and assessment of the composite bridge and support BAE Systems with the engineering and verification process.
Teamed with Thales and BAE Systems QinetiQ will assist in delivering one of the two Electronic Architecture programmes. This work will ensure that a coherent approach is taken to the integration of electronic sub systems and will focus on maturing the readiness levels of associated technologies.

In addition to our role in the Core EA Team, QinetiQ is a member of the Thales Air Defence Ltd team which has been awarded preferred bidder status to deliver the Vetronics Infrastructure element of the Electronic Architecture programme. This programme will ensure that an open and scaleable architecture is developed for FRES, while taking into account existing platform architectures.

Likewise teamed with Thales Optronics, for the Local Situational Awareness element of the Electronic Architecture programme, QinetiQ has received preferred bidder status. The work will principally involve mitigating the risks associated with integrating a close-in-vision system.

Chris Kenchington, the director responsible for managing the FRES Integrated Technology Acquisition Programme at Atkins said: "The award of these contracts represents a significant step forward for the FRES programme. We are delighted to have agreed these contracts and look forward to working in partnership with our suppliers and their teams in order to mature technologies and reduce the overall technical and programme risk."