The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has taken a step forward in its Science and Technology Oriented Research and Development in Missile Defence (STORM) programme by announcing the shortlist of companies vying for the six-year contract.

This phase brings the UK closer to implementing a comprehensive missile defence strategy, aimed at countering an array of advanced missile threats, including ballistic missiles, hypersonic vehicles, and hybrid systems.

The contract, valued between £110 million and £251 million, covers the research, development, and delivery of next-generation missile defence technologies.

The shortlisted companies include:

  • Airbus Defence, Space
  • BAE Systems Operations
  • Frazer-Nash Consultancy
  • Leonardo UK
  • Lockheed Martin UK Ampthil
  • PriceWaterhouseCoopers
  • QinetiQ
  • Roke-Manor Research

These firms will now compete to deliver on the STORM framework, which forms a central part of the MoD’s strategy to enhance the UK’s missile defence capabilities. The STORM programme is designed to tackle a broad range of missile threats through research and development activities spanning several key areas: counter-proliferation, deterrence, counterforce, active defence, and passive defence.

The selected contractor will be responsible for advancing the UK’s ability to detect, track, and intercept threats from ballistic missiles, hypersonic glide vehicles (HGVs), and hypersonic cruise missiles (HCMs).

Project ‘STORM’

Back in July, the Ministry of Defence has announced a comprehensive framework for missile defence research and development, titled Science and Technology Oriented Research and Development in Missile Defence (STORM).

The contract will manage the delivery of research covering all activities to counter ballistic missiles and advanced threats, including but not limited to simple non-separating threats, complex separating threats, Manoeuvring Re-Entry Vehicles (MaRVs), Multiple Independently Targetable Re-Entry Vehicles (MIRVs), Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs), Hypersonic Cruise Missiles (HCM), and hybrid threats.

The research required will cover analysis, experimentation, trials, and technology/system development across all pillars of missile defence:

  • Counter-proliferation: Measures to minimise the spread of missile technology.
  • Deterrence: Measures to discourage the use of missile threats.
  • Counterforce: Actions to reduce the quantity of missiles and supporting equipment available to an aggressor during a conflict.
  • Active defence: Strategies to detect, track, intercept, and disable or destroy missiles in flight.
  • Passive defence: Measures to mitigate and recover from the effects of missile impacts.

The STORM framework, with an estimated budget of £110 million to £251 million, addresses a broad spectrum of missile defence activities.

According to the MoD, the contract will “manage delivery of research covering all activities to counter ballistic missiles and advanced threats including but not limited to simple non-separating threats, complex separating threats, Manoeuvring Re-Entry Vehicles (MaRVs) and Multiple Independently Targetable Re-Entry Vehicles (MIRVs), Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs), Hypersonic Cruise Missiles (HCM) and hybrid threats which share characteristics with BM, HGV and/or HCM.”

The MoD outlined the historical and ongoing challenges posed by ballistic missiles:

“Since the first V2 attack on London in 1944, ballistic missiles have posed a near constant threat to the UK, its overseas interests, and forces. Adversaries continue to invest in and proliferate increasingly advanced ballistic and manoeuvrable threat systems to challenge our freedom of action.”

The MoD specifies the pillars of missile defence research under the STORM framework as follows:

  • “Counter-Proliferation: Measures to minimise the spread of missile technology.”
  • “Deterrence: Measures to discourage the use of missile threats.”
  • “Counterforce: Actions to reduce the quantity of missiles and supporting equipment available to an aggressor during a conflict.”
  • “Active Defence: Strategies to detect, track, intercept, and disable or destroy missiles in flight.”
  • “Passive Defence: Measures to mitigate and recover from the effects of missile impacts.”

The UK Missile Defence Centre (MDC), a unique government-industry partnership within the MoD Head Office, will spearhead the STORM framework, according to the previous notice. The MDC is responsible for all UK missile defence Research & Development (R&D) and provides support to decision-makers on all aspects of missile defence. The MDC was established to “provide a pipeline of funding to sustain SQEP (Suitably Qualified and Experienced Personnel) in relevant UK industry sectors.”

The MoD highlights the strategic importance of the STORM framework: “The Missile Defence R&D Category Strategy, approved in May 2023, recommended creation of a new route to market bringing together core research and technology maturation projects into a single contract, enhancing research outcomes and supply chain efficiency.”

The selected contractor will work closely with the MDC to “design and manage a contract pipeline to deliver the Missile Defence R&D category’s research requirements.” This includes large, multi-year research technology maturation projects, multinational and multi-supplier trials, and short-term rapid analysis. The coordination function is envisaged to be co-located with the Missile Defence Centre in Farnborough.

The notice further details that “the research required will cover analysis, experimentation, trials and technology/system development across all pillars of missile defence.”

The STORM framework is part of the 2020 MOD Science & Technology (S&T) Strategy, which aims to “sustain, exploit, and develop UK industrial and academic expertise to continue to develop next-generation and generation-after-next technologies applicable to Integrated Air and Missile Defence.”

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George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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jason
jason (@guest_858701)
8 days ago

What is the point in sky sabre if it can’t protect us from most air threats?

Erich W
Erich W (@guest_858703)
8 days ago
Reply to  jason

To protect us from the threats it is capable of protecting us from. Just because it’s an air defence platform doesn’t mean it can engage every aerial threat. 30mm naval guns can’t sink every ship out there, an SA80 won’t destroy a tank, etc. Still have applications.

Michael Hannah
Michael Hannah (@guest_858713)
8 days ago
Reply to  jason

It is horses for courses. Sky sabre is not designed to counter all missiles because it is not expected to counter all missiles.
You would not use Ballastic or hypersonic missiles in the battle field but you would expect to see rocket artillery, glide bombs etc but the battle field is very fluid

Rowan Maguire
Rowan Maguire (@guest_858725)
8 days ago
Reply to  jason

SkySaber is not made or operated with the intent of protecting us, it’s sole job is to protect the army. All we have protecting us is the ever strained belief in MAD and a couple of QRA Typhoons. The UK has always been terrible when it comes to national air defenses; we have never invested in bunkers for the general public unlike many of our European allies have for years, we have no long range, permanently placed or rapidly deployable GBAD systems in country (as many nations do or are starting to bring in over major population centers) and our… Read more »

Martin L
Martin L (@guest_858784)
8 days ago
Reply to  Rowan Maguire

“always” and “never” aren’t the correct words to use. The UK fought and won the world’s first major defensive air battle in 1940 and lots of air raid shelters were built in many cities and towns across the UK from 1939 to at least 1943. By the 1950s with the cold war being the primary focus it didn’t make sense to spend money at huge rates on these things. We were still spending some though. Including bunkers for councils in the 1970s and 80s. We have been far too slow though to recognize the threat from Putin’s Russia and we… Read more »

Andrew D
Andrew D (@guest_858904)
7 days ago
Reply to  Martin L

No arguments from me 👍

Spyinthesky
Spyinthesky (@guest_858955)
7 days ago
Reply to  Martin L

See my post above concern for east Enders and actions to build shelters only occurred after the appalling publicity of the event above and others that followed with fears over public unrest. If you read the true story of the underground being used as shelters it is related the people commandeered them despite the authorities attempts to prevent it. Only events like this pressured the real effort to build shelters… well for ordinary people rather than the toffs, elite and those deemed more worthy. Civil servants, elite and politicians spent quite a lot of time in the deep Camden tube… Read more »

Spyinthesky
Spyinthesky (@guest_858952)
7 days ago
Reply to  Rowan Maguire

Indeed sounds familiar. The first air raid disaster in the war was when many hundreds of east end families were hosed in a school and not moved out to a safer plaice. The inevitable happened it was bombed and many were unnecessarily killed including many children. This was reported by Simon Calder father who as a journalist covered the event and had done his best to get the authorities to act. Sadly as per usual urgency with such citizens wasn’t deemed a priority.

Bringer of facts
Bringer of facts (@guest_858726)
8 days ago
Reply to  jason

My understanding is that Skysabre is a battlefield point defence system.

Intercepting Ballistic missiles or fast/hypersonic cruise missiles requires a much more sophisticated radar system, and bigger missiles with a longer range.

Jonathan
Jonathan (@guest_858732)
8 days ago
Reply to  jason

Every system cannot defend against every type of threat..a warhead from an intercontinental ballistic missile traveling at 15,000 miles an hour and at an altitude of 150 miles needs a multi stage orbital booster with exoatmospheric kill vehicle and a very powerful large aperture radar looking straight up ..a drone at 100 feet travelling at 100mph needs a totally different solution, including a look down radar, looking for small slow targets against ground clutter and a small mobile thing to intercept and kill it.

Spyinthesky
Spyinthesky (@guest_858944)
7 days ago
Reply to  jason

Just. Heck out the Israeli system, Iron Dome but a third of it covering different ranges and types of threat. The Polish system will be three different missiles one of which is using CAAM missiles as used in Sky Sabre. Even Patriot isn’t a single system in reality.

Marked
Marked (@guest_858727)
8 days ago

Systems already exist, just save time and money and buy what’s already been developed! This is all about bunging money to industry and not about defence! This is why we spend so much and have bugger all to show for it.

Jonathan
Jonathan (@guest_858735)
8 days ago
Reply to  Marked

I suppose the issue is at what level…yes all the systems exist but be don’t have 100 billion pounds to defend against everything…nor the industry and technical capabilities nor are they all available on the open market. If you really want a credible defence against intermediate and intercontinental ballistic missiles you need a space industry that’s capable of building and launching multi stage orbital rockets. The U.S. is not selling its GBI and GMD systems to anyone. your correct if all they want is a defence against short and medium range ballistic missiles with non separating warheads or single separating… Read more »

Marked
Marked (@guest_858821)
8 days ago
Reply to  Jonathan

The scale of a full on nuclear attack and MIRV is not realistically something which can be defended within our budget constraints. We have a defence against that already in Trident.

The primary risk factor which GBAD can realistically cover is from cruise missiles and conventionally armed ballistic missiles. I just can’t see the point in trying to reinvent the wheel with our track record of project delays and going over budget. It will be 2040 at best before we see anything result from this.

Bazza
Bazza (@guest_858729)
8 days ago

I would hope Lockhead and Airbus are only included for competitions sake and are not actually serious contenders.

It is bad enough contracting out the thinking part of military, it’s even worse when the thinking part takes orders from Washington or Brussels.

Patrick C
Patrick C (@guest_858746)
8 days ago
Reply to  Bazza

Lockheed makes perfect sense as they make the THAAD and are one of the primary contractors of AEGIS ashore- both seem to be the most logical solution for the UK if using off the shelf tech.

Mark B
Mark B (@guest_858733)
8 days ago

All these companies are on the framework and they will each have different areas they will be actively looking at. It will now be a simple process for the MOD to assign work to any of those companies. They might have a mini competion but I am not suspecting PWC (for example) are likely to be producing any hardware. They will probably be more interested in the other areas of the framework. This is a decent step forward.

AlbertStarburst
AlbertStarburst (@guest_858734)
8 days ago

UK also needs a fully integrated, multi-redundant, multi-layer missile/drone air defence software system that as as secure as can possibly be, to control all of this. I hope this is in place or rapidly under development by the UK?

Jonathan
Jonathan (@guest_858737)
8 days ago

Storm is very very interesting, it’s not really about getting some defence against a small number of cruise and short range ballistic missile defence for key targets..look at the scope it’s huge. Independent multiple reentry vehicles are in international ballistic level threat..that they are looking at combating these is a profoundly significant paradigm shift ( it may be a total waste of cash..but it a profound shift). Also look at the pillars..deterrence, counter force, active and passive defence ( civil defence structures)…that’s not about buying a missile defence system that’s about how you fight a peer war/ potential nuclear war… Read more »

Last edited 8 days ago by Jonathan
Bob
Bob (@guest_858738)
8 days ago

Why bother, we are not going to invest in anything.

Geoff Roach
Geoff Roach (@guest_858747)
8 days ago

Goodie. Another research project. How many is this for the currently broken armed forces some time in la la land.

Jonno
Jonno (@guest_859237)
7 days ago
Reply to  Geoff Roach

I agree we are wasting bns on research projects. The best idea is to get off the shelf solutions rather than reinvent the wheel each time. Certainly because of its small size the UK has the advantage of requiring fewer defence ‘strongpoints’ Than say the USA. If you want to defend the UK you need a layered defence incorporating the Royal Navy, USAF,among others. Large new housing developments should have ‘shelter’ laws. There is a need to start somewhere, because an attack from Russia may come sooner than we think. No panic Mr Mainwaring! Bring back Volunteer Civil Defence, Royal… Read more »

Cravendale
Cravendale (@guest_858759)
8 days ago

Surely it would make sense to just acquire the SAMP/T system like the Italians and french, it’s proven and highly capable, we would then also have a common pool of missiles with the navy in that case too like CAMM.

DaveyB
DaveyB (@guest_858915)
7 days ago
Reply to  Cravendale

The Aster missile, even the Block 1NT is a purely endoatmospheric weapon. It can intercept targets up to a published 80,000ft, similar to Patriot PAC3 MSE But it should be able to engage all thee threats listed in the terminal phase. When the threat reaches its engagement threshold. To cover the UK for example, you will need lots of dispersed units. The issue is that with MIRVs especially, you need to take them out before the ICMB’s delivery platform launches the MIRVs. ASs instead on one target, you now could have anywhere up to individual 12 targets. I believe a… Read more »

Simon
Simon (@guest_858766)
8 days ago

Wonder what PriceWaterhouseCoopers are going to be offering ?

Apoplectix
Apoplectix (@guest_858803)
8 days ago
Reply to  Simon

They have exceptional spreadsheet skills and a world renowned PowerPoint presentation department. As that’s all that will emerge from this project they are key.

Lord Baddlesmere
Lord Baddlesmere (@guest_859427)
6 days ago
Reply to  Apoplectix

They are really good at talking the talk as well AKA bullshiting

Stephanie
Stephanie (@guest_858769)
8 days ago

More millions for more studies which will go nowhere.

Either buy Sea Viper for the land or buy AEGIS Ashore.

I do think the UK does need an OTH radar system.

Apoplectix
Apoplectix (@guest_858801)
8 days ago

The MOD said that since 1944 ballistic missiles have posed a near constant threat, so erm why do we have zero defence against them?

DaveyB
DaveyB (@guest_858922)
7 days ago
Reply to  Apoplectix

I would say that only in the last 10 years has it been really possible to defend against ballistic missiles, but also ICBMs. 20 years previous to that point there was a 50/50 chance of intercepting a ballistic missile in its terminal phase. Prior to that the odds were nearly zero. Unless you used nukes for air defence. Up until recently it was thought that missiles such as SM6 and THAAD would let a large number get through. As they had only been tested against single threats. The thought of intercepting a threat in orbit was even more questionable, as… Read more »

Greg Smith
Greg Smith (@guest_858823)
8 days ago

6th largest GDP in the world, FA to show for it.

Jonno
Jonno (@guest_859238)
7 days ago
Reply to  Greg Smith

Precisely Zilch.

Joe16
Joe16 (@guest_858844)
8 days ago

So, the threat list: “1)simple non-separating threats, 2)complex separating threats, 3)Manoeuvring Re-Entry Vehicles (MaRVs) and 4)Multiple Independently Targetable Re-Entry Vehicles (MIRVs), 5)Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs), 6)Hypersonic Cruise Missiles (HCM) and 7)hybrid threats which share characteristics with BM, HGV and/or HCM.” 1 and 2 are categories that describe the rest, to my simple mind, rather than weapon types on their own. 3-5 seem to describe ballistic threats of various kinds, a number of them associated with ICBMs (i.e. nuclear weapons). I’m not sure that we’re in a place that we need a defence against them- from the perspective that likelihood of… Read more »

David
David (@guest_858942)
7 days ago

The Israelis would sell Arrow and Stunner missiles.
LM Aegis ashore, which could use SM3 and the vastly expensive SM6.
THAAD could be bought OTS
We could go with Aster and whatever France and Italy plan to replace it with.
Plenty of options.

Alabama boy
Alabama boy (@guest_859075)
7 days ago

What will all this science achieve given they have been offered 6 years to do it. At best it will come up with something akin to what Israel has in place today so why the wait. We have shipbourne systems such as that in the Type 45 which would be effective why not produce a land based variant or bite the bullet and buy Patriot or the 3 Israeli systems? But that would mean actually spending money and commiting to something far better to study it for a few years.

Jonno
Jonno (@guest_859240)
7 days ago
Reply to  Alabama boy

We could build say an extra 12 T31 Frigates with AAW to fill some of the Gaps for a ‘low cost’ option say 400m GDP each. That’s not a lot of money to also hugely strengthen the Navy.

Lord Baddlesmere
Lord Baddlesmere (@guest_859428)
6 days ago

The UK also has zero civil defence strategy to protect critical infrastructure. This goes hand in glove with missile defense. I think the official HMG position is ‘right chaps pretend this isn’t going to happen and do nothing’

George Lewis
George Lewis (@guest_861256)
3 minutes ago

Fast forward into the end of 2025:

Germany has its initial deployment of its layered architecture with IRIS T, Patriot and Arrow 3

Finland achieves some operational level of its David Sling

Israel has integrated its 100KW laser into its existing layered defense systems

Poland… still need to wait 2 more years for its Patriot batteries (there is a very long queue)

At what stage STORM will be?

The German approach is the correct one, develop one layer, buy the others