Real projects — the case bank.
Ajax armoured vehicle programme
Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV) · 2010 (programme began) - 2029 (Full Operating Capability expected) · Merthyr Tydfil, Wales (assembly)
Apache AH-64E upgrade
Military helicopter - Attack helicopter · 2023 (IOC declared) - 2025 (FOC expected, final delivery of remanufactured aircraft by March 2025) · UK (operation); Mesa, Arizona, USA (remanufacturing)
Astute class submarine programme
Naval shipbuilding - Attack Submarine (SSN) · 1986 (feasibility studies began) - 2026 (expected completion of all 7 boats) · Barrow-in-Furness, England
Babcock Devonport Submarine Overhaul Facility Upgrade (9 Dock Refurbishment)
Naval Engineering (Submarine Maintenance & Refit) · Ongoing (9 Dock refurbishment completed by Sep 2024, broader upgrades ongoing) · Devonport, Plymouth, UK
BAE Systems Eurofighter Typhoon Production
Military Aircraft Production · 1998-ongoing (production rhythm established, final assembly line active with recent orders like Qatar) · Warton, Lancashire, UK
BAE Systems F-35 Lightning II Component Production (Aft Fuselage and Empennage)
Military Aircraft Manufacturing · 2006-ongoing (production of components started, with key milestones like 1000th fuselage in 2023) · Samlesbury, Lancashire, UK
BAE Systems Samlesbury F-35 Production Facility
Aerospace Manufacturing (Military Aircraft) · 2012-Present · Samlesbury, Lancashire, UK
Boxer MIV (Mechanised Infantry Vehicle) programme
Land systems - Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV) · 2019 (contract signed) - 2025 (first UK-built vehicles delivered, IOC by Q4 2025) · UK (assembly by WFEL and RBSL)
Brimstone 3 missile
Missile systems - Air-to-surface / Surface-to-surface · Development ongoing, with first firing tests in 2019; deliveries to Germany starting 2028. · UK (development and manufacturing by MBDA UK)
Challenger 2 Life Extension Programme (LEP) / Challenger 3 Upgrade
Land systems - Main Battle Tank · 2016 (LEP commenced) - 2027 (Challenger 3 replacement begins) · UK
Chinook Mk6 helicopter
Military helicopter - Heavy-lift transport · 2013 (first flight of Mk6) - 2015 (delivery of 14th Mk6) · UK (operation); USA (manufacturing by Boeing)
Devonport Naval Base Submarine Refit Facilities (Submarine Waterfront Infrastructure - SWIF)
Naval Base Infrastructure, Submarine Refit, Modernization · 2024–Ongoing (SWIF project underway, with milestones in 2025) · HMNB Devonport, Plymouth, UK
Dreadnought class submarine programme
Naval shipbuilding - Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN) · 2016 (first steel cut) - early 2030s (first in class expected to enter service) · Barrow-in-Furness, England
Dreadnought Class Submarine Programme (Vanguard Class Successor)
Naval - Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN) · 2016 (construction started) - 2030s (first boat expected in service) · Barrow-in-Furness, UK (construction)
Dreadnought Submarine Programme
Naval Shipbuilding, Ballistic Missile Submarine Construction · 2016–Ongoing (construction started late 2016, first submarine expected to enter service in the early 2030s) · Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, UK
F-35B Lightning II UK fleet
Military aviation - Fifth-generation fighter aircraft · 2006 (UK commitment) - 2025 (all 48 initial aircraft received, FOC for Carrier Strike expected) · UK (operation); USA (manufacturing by Lockheed Martin)
GCHQ Bude Satellite Station
Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) / Satellite Ground Station · 1969 (construction began) - 1974 (became COMSAT installation) · Cleave Camp, Bude, North Cornwall, UK
HMS Albion / HMS Bulwark LPD Refits
Naval maintenance/upgrade - Landing Platform Dock (LPD) · Albion: 2014-2017 (major refit); Bulwark: 2010-2011 (refit), 2020-2024 (support period/recertification) · HMNB Devonport, Plymouth, UK
HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier
Naval shipbuilding - Aircraft Carrier · 2011–2019 · Rosyth Dockyard, Scotland (assembly); HMNB Portsmouth (home port)
HMS Prince of Wales Aircraft Carrier Build
Naval Shipbuilding, Aircraft Carrier Construction · 2011–2017 (assembly), 2019 (commissioned) · Rosyth Dockyard, Fife, Scotland, UK (final assembly)
HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier
Naval shipbuilding - Aircraft Carrier · 2009–2020 · Rosyth Dockyard, Scotland (assembly); HMNB Portsmouth (home port)
HMS Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier Build (Final Assembly)
Naval Shipbuilding, Aircraft Carrier Construction · 2009–2014 (construction), 2017 (sea trials) · Rosyth Dockyard, Fife, Scotland, UK (final assembly)
Inmarsat Global Xpress (GX) network
Satellite communications - Global Ka-band broadband · 2015 (global service coverage achieved) - ongoing (expansion and new satellites) · Global (network); UK (Inmarsat HQ)
Lunar Pathfinder
Lunar telecommunications / Space exploration · 2020 (creation started) - 2027 (due to be launched) · UK (development by SSTL); Lunar orbit (operation)
MBDA Sea Viper (Aster) integration (Principal Anti-Air Missile System - PAAMS)
Naval air defence - Surface-to-air missile system · Development ongoing; £405 million revamp started in 2024 for a decade-long program. · UK (integration and operation); Europe (development by France, Italy, UK)
MBDA Stevenage Missile Production (e.g., SPEAR Missile System)
Missile Systems Manufacturing & Development · Ongoing (50+ years of expertise in missile systems; SPEAR contract in recent years) · Stevenage, Hertfordshire, UK
Merlin Mk2 helicopter upgrade
Military helicopter - Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) / Airborne Early Warning (AEW) · 2008 (contract awarded) - 2016 (final delivery) · Yeovil, UK (AgustaWestland/Leonardo facility)
Meteor missile integration
Missile systems - Beyond-Visual-Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) · Development ongoing; integration onto Typhoon (Tranche 2 and 3) and F-35B (targeted mid-2020s, delayed to early 2030s). · Europe (UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Sweden - multinational development)
OneWeb LEO Constellation (UK Government Stake)
Satellite communications - Low Earth Orbit (LEO) broadband · 2020 (UK government investment) - ongoing (constellation deployment and operation) · Global (constellation); UK (government investment, ground segment)
QinetiQ MOD Boscombe Down Test & Evaluation Programmes
Military Aircraft Testing & Evaluation · 1939-ongoing (site history); ongoing (current QinetiQ operations under LTPA) · MOD Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, UK
RAF Fylingdales Solid State Phased Array Radar (SSPAR) Upgrade
Early Warning Radar / Space Surveillance · 1990 (upgrade began) - 1992 (SSPAR declared operational); subsequent upgrades ongoing. · RAF Fylingdales, North Yorkshire, UK
RFA Tide Class Replenishment Tankers (MARS Programme)
Naval Support Vessels, Fleet Replenishment · 2014–2019 (construction and delivery of four vessels) · Built in South Korea (DSME), customized and entered service in the UK.
RFA Tide class tankers (Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability - MARS)
Naval shipbuilding - Fleet Tanker · 2014 (first laid down) - 2017 (first entered service) · South Korea (construction); UK (fitting out and operation)
SaxaVord Spaceport Shetland
Space launch services / Commercial spaceflight · 2017 (company established) - 2026 (first test flight) - 2030 (commercially operational) · Lamba Ness peninsula, Unst, Shetland, UK
Skynet 5 satellite programme
Military Satellite Communications (MILSATCOM) · 2007 (first launch) - 2022 (PFI programme ended) · UK (operation); France (launch)
Skynet 6 satellite programme
Military Satellite Communications (MILSATCOM) · 2020 (contract for Skynet 6A) - 2042 (communications capabilities out to) · UK (operation); Space (satellites)
Spaceport Cornwall (Horizontal Launch)
Space launch services / Commercial spaceflight · 2014 (project launched) - 2023 (first orbital launch attempt) · Newquay Airport, Cornwall, UK
Tempest / Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP)
Military aviation - Sixth-generation fighter aircraft · 2018 (Team Tempest launched) - 2035 (target service entry) · UK, Italy, Japan (multinational collaboration)
Type 26 City class frigates
Naval shipbuilding - Frigate · 1998 (programme start) - 2028 (initial operating capability for first ship) · Glasgow (Govan and Scotstoun yards on the River Clyde)
Type 26 Frigate Programme (BAE Systems Glasgow Build)
Naval Shipbuilding, Frigate Construction · 2017–Ongoing (first steel cut for HMS Glasgow 2017, second batch contract 2022, expected service 2020s-2035) · Govan and Scotstoun shipyards, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Type 26 Frigate Programme (Cammell Laird Fabrication)
Naval Shipbuilding, Frigate Component Fabrication · 2017–Ongoing · Cammell Laird Shipyard, Birkenhead, Merseyside, UK
Type 31 Frigate Construction (Inspiration Class)
Naval Shipbuilding, Frigate Construction · 2019–Ongoing (contract awarded 2019, first vessel HMS Venturer emerged 2025, serial production ongoing) · Rosyth Dockyard, Fife, Scotland, UK
Type 31 Inspiration Class Frigates
Naval Shipbuilding, General Purpose Frigates · 2021–Ongoing (steel cut for first vessel end of 2021, expected service in the 2020s) · Rosyth Dockyard, Fife, Scotland, UK
Type 45 Destroyer Power Improvement Project (PIP)
Naval maintenance/upgrade - Destroyer · 2017–2028 · UK (HMNB Portsmouth, various shipyards)
Typhoon Phase 3 Enhancement (P3E)
Military aviation - Multi-role fighter aircraft upgrade · 2015 (P3E contract signed) - 2017 (P3Ec integration foreseen, P3E completed) · Europe (UK, Germany, Spain, Italy - partner nations)
Vanguard Class Submarine Life Extension Programme
Naval - Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN) Life Extension · Ongoing (original service life 25 years, extended to bridge gap to Dreadnought class) · UK (maintenance and refit)
Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme (WCSP) (Cancelled)
Land systems - Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) upgrade · Early 2000s (programme started) - 2021 (cancelled) · UK
Wildcat helicopter programme (AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat)
Military helicopter - Multi-role (Naval and Army Aviation) · 2006 (contract awarded) - 2014 (entered service) · Yeovil, UK (development and manufacturing)