The UK Ministry of Defence has launched a 25-million-pound ($31.5-million) fund to propose innovative “battle-winning” solutions for the Ukrainian armed forces.
The fund calls on UK defense companies — including small and medium-sized enterprises — to propose solutions in four categories: artillery, coastal defense, military logistics, resupply, and drones by June 10.
A £25 million fund is available to support innovative equipment for 🇺🇦's armed forces.
The 🇬🇧 Defence industry are being challenged to use their expertise to help supply artillery, coastal defence and unmanned aerial systems.
Read more 👇https://t.co/KO2tlmLdvj
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) May 30, 2022
Categories of Solutions
Artillery proposals should provide Soviet 152mm and 122mm ammunition resupply and maintenance solutions.
For coastal defense, the solutions should deter naval attacks and provide an offensive capability, including autonomous, remotely-controlled vehicles and continuous surveillance.
Military logistics and resupply solutions include “maintenance and development of infrastructure for supply lines by sea and land, including waterways, overbridging, and general Ukrainian engineering capability.”
Lastly, drone capability solutions in offensive, surveillance, and heavy-lift categories are being solicited.
Innovative Solutions in Battle
The immediate need is for equipment that can be supplied within four months, with a scope of “longer-term capability development,” the Ministry of Defence (MoD) stated.
The fund further develops already applied innovative solutions, including “heavy lift [unmanned aerial systems] and anti-tank loitering munitions, as well as adapting existing weapons systems such as integrating Brimstone for use as a ground launched weapon,” the MoD revealed.
UK’s $3.53 Billion Commitment
“Since Russia’s brutal invasion UK defence suppliers with active support from MoD and Defence Equipment & Support have taken equipment from desktop ideas to the front line,” Defence Procurement Minister Jeremy Quin said.
“This £25m plus fund is designed to capture ongoing work and support innovative ideas to meet Ukrainian defence requirements.”
“Recent months have shown the ingenuity and innovation of the UK defence sector. We want to ensure ongoing creativity is harnessed and directed at key requirements and all companies with a capability that can help are aware of the challenge.”
The UK has committed 2.8 billion pounds ($3.53 billion) to Ukraine in humanitarian and military assistance since the war began, including 20 armored vehicles, air defense systems, and more than 6,500 anti-tank missiles.
