The UK Ministry of Defense (MoD) has launched a competitive bidding process for cutting-edge Boresight solutions to be integrated into its Ajax armored fighting vehicles.
Boresights are most commonly used to adjust and maintain the target systems of barreled weapons to ensure precision firing.
They also allow users to check the accuracy of their weapon and restore it in just a few minutes if necessary.
According to UK tender documents, interested vendors must be capable of providing an immediate requirement for 295 Boresight kits, with an initial delivery of 50 kits in four to six months.
The MoD estimates the contract value to reach 5 million pounds ($6.8 million), with a potential duration of one to five years.
Furthermore, the winning vendor may be contracted to deliver up to 400 Boresight kits for the Ajax vehicles.
Down-Selection
Interested firms are obligated to complete a pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ) to be considered.
They are also encouraged to review the country’s DEFSTAN 05-138 (cybersecurity for defense suppliers) to ensure they can comply with the necessary control measures.
Based on the PQQs, the MoD will down-select three to five potential suppliers to proceed to the competition’s next phase.
The ministry’s Defence Equipment and Support arm will oversee the entire tender process.
IOC by 2025
The “heart of the British Army’s future armored fleet,” the Ajax is designed to offer superior lethality, survivability, and mobility to other infantry fighting vehicles.
It is reportedly the first British vehicle to be fitted with the Case Telescoped 40mm Cannon (CT-40 Cannon), in addition to a coaxially mounted 7.62mm L94 chain gun.
It also boasts advanced sensors with thermal imaging and cutting-edge optics to provide improved battlefield awareness day and night.
The tender for the Ajax’s Boresights was just in time for the UK’s target of having the vehicles achieve initial operational capability by December 2025.
The Ajax program suffered an eight-year delay after soldiers complained about noise and vibration when using the early trial versions of the vehicle.
