About Weapons Sector Research Framework

Our vision is to rapidly deliver battle winning weapon technology solutions that benefit both MOD and industry.

The WSRF provides a unified framework for planning and delivering complex, general and directed energy weapons R&T. It aligns MOD and industry funding, supports critical weapons expertise, and accelerates the exploitation of innovation into future systems.

Contact us

WSRFCOMMERCIAL@qinetiq.com

The WSRF core programme covers research across:

Weapon components and sub systems, including complex weapons and general munitions.

Associated system elements such as launchers, sensors, communications, targeting, fire control, C2 and platform integration.

Directed energy weapons (e.g., lasers and RF effects), as well as established propulsion, guidance and seeker technologies.

Weapon system architectures and platform integration.

Activities supporting future procurement goals, including reducing cost and time to service.

Weapons modelling and simulation.

Applications of cross cutting technologies.

Energetic materials.

Our Partners

The WSRF, led by QinetiQ, unites organisations of all sizes, with SMEs and academia delivering over half of all tasks. With more than 150 partners from academia, SMEs and the wider weapons industry, the framework brings together major defence companies and diverse supply chain tiers to strengthen UK S&T capability.

Partners gain visibility of upcoming S&T tasks and can bid to lead or collaborate on work across the sector. Although not a consortium, the WSRF comprises organisations formally connected through a Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA).

Four steps to becoming a partner:

Email WSRFCOMMERCIAL@qinetiq.com to provide a written request to become a partner containing supporting evidence.

You will then receive a request to complete a short appraisal questionnaire.

After reviewing your questionnaire, we will invite you to submit a short capability statement to support your organisation’s application.

A two‑phase consultation will begin once we receive your information. First, the WSRF Planning Teams will review your submission. Then, the Supply Chain Manager will share your organisation’s name with existing partners for comment.

After the consultation period, the Supply Chain Manager will support your organisation through the formal on‑boarding process, including the NDA and Enabling Agreements.