The Ministry of Defence has formally awarded a £4.5 million contract to Modini Limited for the delivery of One Way Effector (OWE) systems under a two-year, single-source arrangement intended to support Project ASGARD and upcoming operational deployments.
According to the contract award notice published on 17 April 2025, the agreement was concluded on 20 February 2025, with delivery timelines aligning to the MOD’s requirement for operational readiness ahead of Operation CABRIT in summer 2025.
OWEs—unmanned combat aerial vehicles designed for single-use strike or reconnaissance missions—form a key part of a broader capability enhancement under Project ASGARD, a network-enabled, software-defined reconnaissance and strike framework. The goal is to provide “any sensor to any effector” decision-making superiority on the battlefield through rapid and scalable integration of effectors and digital decision tools.
The MOD previously published a voluntary transparency notice in December 2024 outlining its intention to proceed with the contract via negotiated procedure without prior publication, citing technical exclusivity and urgent delivery requirements.
The contract was awarded through the Human Machine Teaming (HMT) Framework, with MOD citing that “only Modini could meet the required performance specifications and tight delivery schedule” for the required payload weight, speed, range, and terrain-following capabilities.
The notice stated:
“There is strict technical impracticality for a supplier other than the chosen supplier to achieve the Authority’s technical requirements… only Modini could reach the Authority’s strict and necessary deadlines for production and delivery of the hardware.”
The initial contract value is £4.5 million (excluding VAT), with options for further procurement of additional effectors and spares anticipated. A prior estimate suggested the overall value for the OWE component of Project ASGARD could reach £7.5 million, depending on evolving operational needs.
Modini Limited, based in Pewsey, is an SME and has been identified as the sole contractor for this stage of the programme. The company’s ability to rapidly meet demanding specifications has made it a key partner for near-term strike drone delivery, though MOD clarified this deal “will not define longer-term OWE solutions for the UK.”
What does this mean?
In this context, OWE systems refer to advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) designed to deliver precision strikes with the ability to operate autonomously and strike specific targets with high accuracy. This contract, set for a 24-month period, will support Operation CABRIT, a key NATO mission, and is part of a broader effort to develop a software-defined, network-enabled system for the UK Armed Forces.
Op Cabrit is a UK-led NATO operation based in Estonia. It is part of NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) initiative in the Baltic region. The operation involves the deployment of British Army personnel and equipment, primarily focused on providing a deterrent against potential aggression, strengthening NATO’s defensive posture, and enhancing security in the region, particularly in response to concerns about Russian influence.
The One Way Effector systems will be procured through the Human Machine Teaming (HMT) Framework, with Modini selected due to its ability to meet the MOD’s stringent technical requirements.
The MOD noted previously that “it was identified that only Modini could reach the Authority’s strict and necessary deadlines for production and delivery of the hardware for Spring 2025 and be deployed on Op CABRIT in Summer 2025.” This makes Modini the sole supplier able to deliver on the MOD’s demanding criteria, which include payload weight, scalability, range, maximum speed, and terrain-following capabilities.
Project ASGARD is an initiative designed to provide the UK with enhanced decision support and operational execution across land, air, and maritime domains.
The project is divided into three main areas, or ‘tents’, which include “Effectors,” “Digital Innovation,” and “Enhanced C4 ISTAR & Networks.” The procurement of the OWE systems falls under Tent 1, Effectors, which focuses on increasing the range and effectiveness of kinetic effects, particularly in support of brigade and divisional deep battles. This initiative seeks to integrate “all appropriate effector capabilities with in-theatre communications and data exchange systems” to ensure seamless operational execution.
The MOD also clarified that while the OWE systems will be crucial to meeting the UK’s near-term defence needs, they will not define the technical solutions for the MOD’s longer-term OWE-based capability requirements. This aligns with the broader aim of enhancing the UK’s military capabilities, reinforcing its commitment to cutting-edge technology and operational readiness in modern warfare.
The MOD’s Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) team is managing the contract, with Modini’s proven expertise ensuring that the OWE systems will meet the necessary performance standards and be ready for deployment by mid-2025.
“Project ASGARD is intended to meet a specific, near-term capability need and will not define technical solutions for the UK MOD’s longer-term OWE-based capability requirements,” the MOD noted in the official award announcement.
