The Ministry of Defence is inviting defence industry representatives to an industry day at Abbey Wood in Bristol on 29 June to discuss its ISTARI space-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance programme, with an estimated contract value of up to £800 million excluding VAT.
ISTARI is described as the overarching programme initiated to deliver the UK’s space-based ISR end-to-end requirements, designed to cohere, integrate and adopt various operational concept demonstrators to deliver what the MoD describes as a sovereign, defence-controlled, continual, resilient, timely, pervasive and flexible observation capability across the globe, augmenting capabilities owned and developed by key allies. The estimated contract runs from August 2027 to August 2031.
The industry day will provide an update on the National Armaments Director’s space portfolio landscape and an overview of planned work across all space capabilities, as well as a briefing from the MoD to industry setting out the scope, vision and current status of ISTARI in the aftermath of the Strategic Defence Review. A guest speaker from the Government Commercial Agency will also brief attendees on the Space Technology Solutions Dynamic Market, described as the team’s primary route to market and an evolutionary successor to the Space-Enabled and Geospatial Services Framework.
Attendance is in person only and capped at two representatives per organisation, with a minimum of Baseline Personnel Security Standard clearance required. The registration deadline is 5 June or when capacity is reached, whichever comes first.
