Introduction

Context

The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (MoD) has decided that its science and technology objectives will be best served by collaborating with industry and academia and it has developed the concept of Defence Technology Centres (DTCs) to implement this initiative.

DTCs are intended to act as virtual centres of excellence in broad technology areas relevant to defence. This DTC is in the field of Electro-Magnetic Remote Sensing (EMRS DTC). However, MoD has also placed contracts for DTCs in the fields of Data & Information Fusion and Human Factors Integration. These three programmes comprise the first tranche of DTCs which shall be supplemented in the future by subsequent tranches of DTCs in other fields. MoD has recently announced its intention to hold a competition for the first Tranche 2 DTC, which is entitled 'Systems Engineering & Integrated Systems for Defence: Autonomous & Semi Autonomous Vehicles'.

More information on the UK Defence Science and Technology Strategy can be found at:

	UK MoD
	UK MoD Defence Science & Innovation Strategy
	Defence Science & Technology Laboratories
	Defence Technology Centre Initiative

Consortium

The consortium which Selex Sensors and Airborne Systems leads as prime contractor comprises the following companies:

	Selex Sensors and Airborne Systems
	Thales Defence Limited
	Roke Manor Research Limited
	Filtronic plc

A collaboration agreement has been executed to establish a framework to govern working practices between the members of the consortium. This collaboration was amended post award of the EMRS DTC prime contract to harmonise any inconsistencies between the provisions of the agreement and the agreed terms of the prime contract.

Customer

The EMRS DTC programme is being funded by UK MoD with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratories (DSTL) organisation acting as the contracting authority. DSTL has placed a prime contract on Selex Sensors and Airborne Systems which in turn has placed sub-contracts in respect of all approved research activities funded by MoD under the prime contract.