The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has reopened its Hypersonic Technologies & Capability Development Framework (HTCDF) to accelerate the development of a hypersonic strike capability for the United Kingdom.
The framework, originally launched to bring together industry, academia, and the MoD, is designed to support cutting-edge research and the operational deployment of hypersonic technologies.
According to an industry notice, this framework aims to “accelerate the acquisition of advanced Hypersonic Strike Capability” and will be crucial in advancing the UK’s strategic defence capabilities.
The framework is valued at up to £1 billion and will run for seven years, concluding in March 2031. The procurement will involve the provision of services and supplies across eight key areas, referred to as “lots,” each focusing on different aspects of hypersonic technology, including propulsion, airframe, and guidance systems.
It will support services from early-stage research to fully developed operational systems. According to the notice, the framework is being reopened to allow new suppliers to join, “ensuring that it remains relevant in a fast-changing political, technological, and regulatory landscape.”
The framework is divided into eight specific lots:
Lot 1: Design and Integration
“Services and supplies relating to: Platform integration, Systems integration and design authority, Thermal management, Infrastructure.”
Lot 2: Modelling, Simulation, Testing and Evaluation
“Services and supplies relating to: Modelling & simulation, Mission Planning, Test & Evaluation, Assurance.”
Lot 3: Airframe and Power Generation
“Services and supplies relating to: Airframe, Physical flight control system, High Temp Materials, Power Supply & Distribution.”
Lot 4: Low TRL / Specialists
“Services and supplies relating to: Academic Research, Specialists.”
Lot 5: Lethal Package
“Services and supplies relating to: Warhead, Fuse.”
Lot 6: Propulsion
“Services and supplies relating to: Liquid Propellant, Solid Propellant, Propulsion System.”
Lot 7: Onboard Computing
“Services and supplies relating to: Flight control computer systems, Guidance systems & sensors, Comms & data links systems.”
Lot 8: Seekers
“Services and supplies relating to: Seekers.”
According to the MoD, the framework will allow periodic onboarding of new suppliers every 6 to 12 months, ensuring the inclusion of the latest technologies and innovations. It emphasises that “existing suppliers will not be required to re-tender but can apply to join new lots as they become available.”
The MoD highlights that “services and supplies to be procured through the framework are likely to include, but will not be limited to, research, systems, components, technology, the provision of infrastructure, testing and other related expertise and materials,” demonstrating the broad scope of the initiative.
UK accelerating hypersonic missile development
We previously reported that the United Kingdom is accelerating its efforts to develop a homegrown hypersonic missile, aiming to keep pace with global powers like China, Russia, and the United States.
In a recent update, Lord Coaker, Minister of State for the Ministry of Defence, outlined the UK’s progress in hypersonic technology, highlighting the nation’s leadership role in this critical area.
“The UK is demonstrating its leadership in the global hypersonic arena by active participation in the AUKUS Pillar 2 Advanced Capability Partnership,” he said.
The UK has been a key player in advancing capability development alongside its AUKUS allies since the initiative began in 2022. The Ministry of Defence has established a dedicated programme team, known as Team Hypersonics (UK), to focus on creating a sovereign hypersonic capability.
“Building on previous research and development, the MOD has established a Programme Team – Team Hypersonics (UK) – to cohere Ministry of Defence, industry and academia around the development of a sovereign hypersonic capability,” Coaker explained.
Central to this effort is the Hypersonic Technologies and Capability Development Framework (HTCDF), a £1 billion initiative designed to support the phased development of this cutting-edge technology.
“Team Hypersonics (UK) has established the Hypersonic Technologies and Capability Development Framework (HTCDF),” Coaker said, adding that the framework involves 90 suppliers, including defence contractors, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and academic institutions.
Coaker also noted that testing of key technologies, such as a new hypersonic propulsion system, is already underway.
“With these enablers in place, the testing of critical sovereign-designed and manufactured missile sub-system technologies continues, including a novel hypersonic propulsion system,” he said. Several invitations to tender have been issued to further develop these technologies, paving the way for technical demonstrators and eventually a fully operational missile.
While the exact launch platform for the hypersonic missile has yet to be determined, options include deployment from land, fighter jets, or warships.
The Ministry of Defence has provided few details due to the sensitive nature of the project, but a spokesperson confirmed, “We are pursuing hypersonic technologies to further develop UK sovereign advanced capabilities. We continue to invest in our equipment to meet current and future threats.”
Lot 9 : cancellation.
Well it’s about capabilities development not an actual missile so that isn’t very likely in any foreseeable future only the levels of timescale, programme breadth and investment really that might lead up to an actual platform. Cant afford to not do this sort of research and whatever we may or may not buy such research will prepare us for participation in any programme we may commit to be it UK or, AUKUS or wider international. Rather like had we not committed to all the research in the period we haven’t designed and developed a fighter aircraft enables us to get a prime position on F-35 and the development of Tempest.
Lot 1 seems designed specifically for Reaction Engines.
Thermal management and being the hypersonic design authority looks right up their street.
I thought they’d packed up and gone the way of Bristol Spaceplanes, but they seem do being lots of interesting little things.
I wonder what Musk would do with our little precooler systems….?
They developed the precooler with a complete focus on SABRE, then when that stopped happening they woke up and realised that the world’s most efficient heat exchangers might be useful outside a space plane.
Lucky Coincidence, hope it turns out well 🤞😁
Irrespective of what you think of him, if he required the technology he would likely have already done it. Sundays Starship 5 flight was awesome,
Reaction Engines is working with Rolls Royce on the HVX programme. However, this is a Unmanned reusable vehicle. The display board at Farnborough 2022 has it as a satellite delivery system in the background, so Skylon, or a successor is still on the wish list after the Concept V study.
I suppose if they still did a Royal Review like they did in the BAOR days they could proudly march the massed Projects Team past in review order.
When HM asks where the Tanks are they just say “Sorry Sir, we don’t actually have a T of those, but we can start a Project Team up to look at that concept”.
🥴
😩
If Lord Robertson is looking for an easy saving of £1 billion then I have found it.
Hopefully we see sense soon on the sci-fi crap like AI, Hypersonics, laser beams, Quntum etc.
None of this stuff is going to produce much if anything it’s just an excuse for defence contractors to piss money up the wall.
If any of these technologies do open up it will be nothing to do with military defence contractors.
“accelerate” in seven years… Wow.😟
That’s exactly what I thought
Warp speed 0
“Leadership”? Surely, more like “catchup”!!
🚀vroooom
Actually, £1Bn, principally confined to AUKUS directed R&D, and spread over a 7 yr. period, may be the negotiated contribution of the UK to the AUKUS Pillar 2 Hypersonics initiative. This investment may facilitate UK access to future tech, for a steeply discounted cost. 🤔
I agree, £150M p.a.is surely the absolute minimum the UK must spend on hypersonics to remain a credible R&D partner and keep its seat at the top table(s). France, Australia, India, Germany, South Korea and Japan all spend far more; Russia probably spends a magnitude more; whilst spending by the USA and China may well be two magnitudes higher.
🤔 steeply discounted cost and Lockheed Martin
Could easily envision significant work share by UK PLC in final product(s).
From bits and pieces i’ve read I thought it was just the US and Aust doing joint hypersonic development and that the UK was going it alone. Are they all together with this then after all? Or has the UK joined belatedly as a bit of a “Johnny come lately”?
Focus on hypersonic interceptor technology first, strike later. Defence over offence.
Exactly, we need better GBAD, at the bare minimum we need a longer range system like SAMP/T. Sky Sabre and CAMM are good systems, but they have very real limitations and can only realistically defend a small area.
No hurry then
It all seems a bit Pathetic when the RAF & RN need a Hypersonic missile Now.
7 yrs ! The war will be over by then . Just build em and get cracking
5 to 7 years was the default time to develop a new missile using fairly mature technology 40 years ago. Development timescales have not reduced. This seems hopelessly optimistic if it to result in a capability, or at the end of this phase does development start?
Where does this fit into the CADMID / DLODS models?
The only problem here is that we’ll spend a fortune in development costs over a number of years with no guarantee of a weapon for a good number of years, if at all, whilst the likes of the US will have a fully operational missile in service a lot sooner, which begs the question of whether on a limited budget we should be looking at an off the shelf option if one is available?
“Lethal Package” I would make a Betty Swollocks joke but that’s low hanging fruit.