United Kingdom Defense Uncrewed Systems Early Market Engagement

The UK MOD is hosting early market engagement (EME) with industry to understand the size and maturity of the uncrewed systems market. EME enables the MOD to refine and articulate its requirements and helps it identify its best procurement options.

This EME will seek feedback and insights from industry to better understand current uncrewed systems and to avoid conducting R&D if potential uncrewed solutions already exist. The EME will enable the MOD to focus on accelerating innovative solutions from suppliers and will concentrate on two critical sub-systems of Uncrewed Systems:

•    Position, Navigation and Timing in Highly Contested Environments
•    Low-cost, Fast Engines

The MOD will hold EME workshops that will allow industry to:

•    Understand, challenge or provide insight into the MOD’s problem challenge areas
•    Consider potential development of new or modified current capabilities

The workshops will be an open (non-confidential) forum and attendees must be willing to take part in the open discussion. The output of the workshops will inform the MOD’s next steps for uncrewed systems.  

This EME is open to all of industry and academia. Applications for a place at an EME workshop are limited to one person per organization. The attendee must have a good understanding of the problem space and the relevant technology that their organization. Attendees will be expected to self-fund any travel and subsistence costs.

This EME presents potential opportunities for U.S. companies with expertise in uncrewed systems technologies and services. U.S. companies have a worldwide reputation for innovative products, after sales service, and training which makes them competitive in the UK market. The U.S. and UK also share similar business cultures and business practices, which makes the UK an attractive market for U.S. suppliers.

If you have novel technology in uncrewed systems and you would like to learn how to apply to attend the MOD’s EME workshops, or to learn more about defense opportunities in the UK, please contact PJ Menner at the U.S. Embassy London via PJ.Menner@trade.gov.