Roke Manor Research has been awarded a £251 million (US$322 million) six-year contract to lead R&D for the UK’s missile defense systems.
The huge contract to manage the UK’s Science & Technology Oriented Research & development in Missile (STORM) program will see the engineering and technology consultancy partner with the UK Missile Defence Centre (MDC).
STORM is focused on developing measures to counter current and future ballistic and hypersonic missiles. The program covers analysis, experimentation, trials, and technology development for missile counter proliferation, deterrence, counterforce, and active and passive defense systems.
The STORM work will play a key role in developing next-generation missile defence solutions and inform UK defense policies and Government decision-making.
Roke’s six-year contract, which includes a three-year extension option, will place the firm at the heart of the program and the UK’s missile defence ecosystem. More than 95% of STORM will be delivered by UK-based workers to enhance the country’s sovereign capability for missile defence R&D.
Paul MacGregor, managing director at Roke Manor, which is part of the Chemring Group said, “Missile defence is crucial to protecting the UK’s interests in an increasingly complex threat landscape. As adversaries develop and use more advanced capabilities, the ability to detect, identify, and defeat missile threats is essential to safeguarding the UK and its allies.
Anthony Wraight, director of the UK Missile Defence Centre said, “Roke’s commitment to collaboration, technical excellence, and delivery of impactful solutions will be key to enhancing the nation’s defence against ballistic and hypersonic missiles and staying ahead of emerging threats through the research delivered by STORM.”
Roke has already supported the UK MDC on Hyperion, a £30 million (US$23 million) five-year project to develop phased array radar able to better track hypersonic missiles. Hyperion is being delivered through the DSTL’s (Defence Science and Technology Laboratory’s) Serapis Lot 1 project framework.
Chris Squier, defence business unit director at Roke said, “Our role in leading the STORM framework builds upon the framework management capabilities demonstrated in our role as lead for SERAPIS Lot 1 and will leverage the decades of heritage we have in helping customers solve complex problems, particularly in sensing and decision making.”
