Heavy lift uncrewed air systems framework for UK Ministry of Defence

The UK Ministry of Defence has created the Heavy Lift Challenge framework to accelerate development of autonomous Heavy Lift Uncrewed Air Systems, mainly for maritime use. The framework aims to produce delivery-ready platforms that can carry heavy payloads beyond visual line of sight, with the Royal Navy among the intended users. The framework is valued at GBP 20,000,000.

AI summary of the notice · the full notice text is below

Deadline: 26 Jul 2021
Ceiling: GBP 20.0M≈ EUR 23.4MThe maximum a framework agreement allows; orders under it can total less.
How it works: A framework agreement: the suppliers named can receive orders under it until it ends; the value is the most it allows.
Category: Platforms · Air

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Full notice text

Heavy Lift Challenge (Contract Number: 701570378) The Heavy Lift Challenge (HLC) Framework (the Framework) has been created by the Authority in order to accelerate the development of a range of autonomous Heavy Lift Uncrewed Air Systems for use predominantly, but not exclusively, in the maritime domain. The intention is to address the lack of current options in the market by increasing the number of delivery ready platforms in order to help support and develop the Authority's understanding of the potential capabilities and uses for of such autonomous systems. The Authority will facilitate accelerated development of a number of Supplier Uncrewed Air Systems (UAS) to meet or exceed the requirements of an Authority defined Minimum Viable Product. Our intent is to ensure that Defence will have access at the speed of relevance to current and future emerging cutting-edge capabilities for use within the Royal Navy and other domains. The Authority will facilitate, via the use of this competitive framework, an environment whereby suppliers are able to demonstrate current capabilities, set out product development and commercial exploitation roadmaps and work with both the Authority and potentially with other suppliers to accelerate pace of development and reduce time to market. The purpose of the HLC Framework is therefore to support and inform the development of Maritime operating concepts and enable assessment, analysis, exploration and evaluation of the use of un-crewed air systems (UAS) for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) payload delivery. The Framework is designed specifically to: i) provide Sponsor / User confidence in the potential for UAS systems to provide recoverable, adaptable, remotely piloted air systems, capable of accurately delivering heavy payloads at range; ii) enable the Authority to identify and as appropriate fund the most viable solutions in the market for accelerated further development in order to meet the Authority's minimum requirement

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From UK Contracts Finder · updated 25 Oct 2026

The facts on this page come from the official notice.