The Support Scientific Research and Innovation Research laboratory has actually granted a follow-on agreement to L3 Harris ASV to offer storage space, repair and maintenance solutions for a fleet of government-owned surface area vessels, according to a recently released agreement information notification.
The agreement covers assistance to a variety of unmanned surface area vessels made use of as component of the Maritime Freedom Surface Area Testbed, a Defence-owned capacity made use of to test and assess maritime freedom modern technologies, the organisation specified. The arrangement is valued at ₤ 968,625 leaving out barrel, climbing to ₤ 1.16 million consisting of barrel, and was joined 17 December 2025.
According to the notification, the honor connects to ” storage space, repair and maintenance solutions for a variety of Authority possessed surface area vessels.” The first agreement duration ranges from 17 December 2025 up until 31 March 2026, with choices to expand the setup by approximately 3 extra years, possibly taking the agreement via to March 2029.
The purchase was performed as a straight honor under the protection and safety program of the Purchase Act 2023. The authority points out technological and copyright factors to consider as the factor for choosing L3 Harris ASV without competitors, explaining the arrangement as ” a follow-on agreement for the Storage space, Upkeep, Procedure and Repair Service of the Maritime Freedom Surface Area Testbed (POLE) possessions.”
The notification discusses that solution stipulation was needed instantly which the vendor holds one-of-a-kind competence. It mentions that ” L3 Harris has one-of-a-kind SQEP certain to the Dstl-owned systems,” keeping in mind that the vessels include both company-owned and government-owned copyright. The vendor is likewise recognized as satisfying the function of ” Style Authority” for the systems, consisting of obligation for vessel adjustments, assimilation of sensing units and hauls, and risk-free procedure of the systems.
Dstl additional notes that the pole capacity is ” an intricate system of systems, which is software application extensive,” including that the software application design consists of aspects that are ” dispersed totally throughout” the vessels. Therefore, the authority wraps up that ” nothing else third event would certainly have the ability to obtain accessibility to this because of the systems exclusive nature.”
The agreement will certainly be taken care of without official crucial efficiency signs, with the authority mentioning that ” KPIs were evaluated as supplying no proportionate or sensible advantage,” which efficiency will certainly rather be managed via legal terms and functional administration. All job under the agreement will certainly occur in the UK.

