The UK MoD Research Acquisition Organisation (RAO) has awarded QinetiQ an initial three-year enabling contract, which could be worth over £10 M, to lead the UK Energetics (UK-E) consortium. The consortium’s remit is to maintain and refresh UK expertise, facilities and technologies in energetic materials, thereby providing a cornerstone in the implementation of the Defence Technology Strategy (DTS) and the Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) for general munitions and complex weapons.
The capacity of the UK’s Armed Forces in delivering decisive military effects is dependent upon the capability of its complex weapons and general munitions, for which energetic materials are a crucial component. In addition to their vital role in the delivery of conventional military capability, energetics technologies are also essential to counter terrorism and the strategic deterrent.
Bringing together the capabilities of the founder consortium members within a single enabling contract framework will provide the RAO with a focus for all of its energetics related research. This framework will also compliment the energetics expertise of the new Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) organisation, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), the Counter Terrorism Centre, AWE, and other UK government departments, providing them with an onshore readily accessible centre for energetics expertise.