UK Defense Market – Wireless Comms & Networking

The UK Ministry of Defense (MOD) is looking to leverage civilian communications technology components that could be modified to support defense requirements.  The UK’s future defense capability is focused on achieving Information Advantage, meaning the ability to out-think adversaries to achieve dominance in the battlespace.  Fundamental to the UK’s concept of Information Advantage is the ability to exchange information in a timely manner, resilient to adversary action, which may come in the form of electronic, cyber or physical attack.  Opportunities exist for U.S. companies that can provide novel capability in the fields of wireless communications, networking and information theory.

To achieve Information Advantage, the UK MOD is seeking industry to supply innovation that demonstrates information exchange capabilities that are resilient to the challenges experienced in the deployed operational military environment, often referred to as a congested and contested environment. Specifically, the UK MOD is seeking innovation and solutions in four areas:

Mobility - Network entities in the deployed environment are highly mobile and this mobility is not always predictable in advance.

Spectrum Access - The electromagnetic spectrum is a shared resource and operating alongside allies and civil populations brings significant problems for spectrum planning and access.

Demand for Information – UK defense forces depend on information exchange which is driving a demand for ever greater communications capacity.

Adversary Threat - Communications are the essential enabler to UK defense forces but could also allow an adversary to detect and attack.

Opportunities exist for U.S. companies that can provide novel capability in the fields of wireless communications, networking and information theory.  Solutions should target any of the domains of defense and should focus on deployed scenarios.  To increase the impact on the novel solutions provided by industry, the solutions will be shared across UK government as appropriate including partners in National Cyber Security Centre.  As deemed appropriate, proposed solutions may be shared with partner nation governments within Five Eyes and, possibly, NATO.

For more information on the MOD and opportunities in the UK defense market, please contact PJ Menner in Embassy London at pj.menner@trade.gov.