QinetiQ has agreed a five-year contract extension worth 205 million GBP with the UK Ministry of Defence to continue providing engineering services for the Royal Air Force’s Typhoon aircraft, according to the company.
The agreement will see QinetiQ deliver ongoing mission-critical engineering support intended to sustain Typhoon capability and pilot safety. The company said the work will focus on accelerating engineering outputs and improving the speed at which aircraft can be returned to operational status.
Under the contract, QinetiQ plans to use digital engineering tools and artificial intelligence to reduce the time and cost associated with maintaining airworthiness, while supporting frontline availability, the company stated.
QinetiQ said the deal will sustain around 250 highly skilled jobs across the UK, including roles within small and medium-sized enterprises, and will also provide technical support to export customers operating the aircraft.
As part of the agreement, the company is investing £10 million to embed new digital and AI technologies. This builds on existing partnerships with UK-based AI small and medium-sized enterprises, which QinetiQ said are intended to augment specialist engineering skills and increase productivity. The company added that it plans to apply similar approaches across other engineering services delivered to the Ministry of Defence.
The contract will be delivered through the QinetiQ-led Aurora Engineering Delivery Partnership. The partnership includes companies such as Atkins, BMT, Frazer-Nash, KBR and a wider network of more than 380 suppliers providing engineering services across defence programmes.
Luke Pollard, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, said: “Our Typhoon fighter fleet is crucial in how we keep Britain secure at home and strong abroad, deploying across the world in support of our allies.”
He added: “Through our continued investment in the Typhoon programme and last year’s £8 billion Typhoon export deal with Türkiye, we are showing how defence is an engine for growth supporting prosperity across the country.”
QinetiQ Group Chief Executive Steve Wadey said: “This contract is a testament to our commitment to the government’s defence as an engine for growth agenda. We’re backing UK businesses, modernising how we deliver and ensuring the operational readiness of our armed forces.”
He added: “Working in close collaboration with the Ministry of Defence, we are investing in cutting-edge technology that increases our productivity and elevates our vital expertise, meaning we can get mission critical capability in to the hands of our warfighters at pace and reduced cost.”
QinetiQ said the Aurora Engineering Delivery Partnership currently sustains more than 3,000 highly skilled jobs across the UK, with a significant proportion of participating companies classed as small and medium-sized enterprises.
205 million here.
300 million for redeveloping South Cerney to add 13 RS and an expanded ACSOC.
And people ask where the budget goes.
That half a billion would buy a few ships for the RN, or the Atlas promised to the RAF.
We must be a world leader in support contracts, question is support what? We do not hold as much kit as we used to but yet the costs go up. God knows how much a fully equipt Army might cost to supply etc, may be that why its so half arsed to save money. The MOD made no big new orderes in last 20 months so where has all the money gone?
On things like this, and the DNE.
The MoD “Defence Budget” supports the MIC, not just the military.
I’ve suggested many times that area
is actually HMGs priority.
You can see a pue chart segmenting it all out online. Personnel, Pensions, Infrastructure, R&D, New Equipment, Equipment “Support” ( huge chunk this, money to the MIC, OKA a gravy train ) fuel coats, and so on. The DNO takes a huge chunk of the budget.
Then HMG, in their wisdom, add lots more non military voices to the defence budget to reach the NATO % targets and there you go.
We are expanding the defence budget, and that’s what the public see and swallow.
That the military is creaking at the seams with lack of assets is lost in the highlighting of percentages.
All deliberate.
‘The MoD “Defence Budget” supports the MIC’
The problem here is the eye watering costs of carrying out civil engineering even on green fields in open countryside. Mainly because of the crazy inefficiencies baked into UK construction. Then amp that up a bit for the bother of dealing with MoD administration and payments and put a load more onto it for working inside the security fence.
Ah MOD smoke and morrors on paper a defence increse and money spent but really more and more other things are added to the budget. How can the Army be in such a mess when its half the size it was 35 years be fore Gulf war 1, i know its not as simple as that but come on where has all the cash gone? years ago we had 800 plus tanks not barely 200 and 14 SPG’s,
How did this shambles get to mess it is, Paying much more for much less and really not much to show for it.