A project begun four years ago to modernise the UK's military air traffic control infrastructure has gained fresh momentum following the announcement of two new teaming agreements to pursue the estimated £1 billion ($1.5 billion) deal.
The Ministry of Defence launched its projected 22-year Joint Military Air Traffic Services (JMATS) project in November 2005, and the effort has been in its assessment phase since receiving so-called initial gate approval in January 2008.
Two leading contenders for the requirement announced details of new teaming arrangements at the ATC Global 2010 conference in Amsterdam on 9 March, raising the profile of the competition.
Raytheon has joined forces with service provider Serco to promote its credentials for JMATS, with the partners describing themselves as "pretty much the incumbent suppliers" of military ATC equipment and services in the UK.
With the MoD's primary Watchman radars now around 30 years old, "there is an absolute requirement to upgrade the equipment, from a legislation and obsolescence point of view", says Tom Burnet, Serco's defence operations managing director.
"It's going to need a level of innovation, including in how to deal with the finance, technology and manpower," says Richard Daniels, senior director for Raytheon Systems, which will prime the joint bid. "Our team has a depth of experience in these areas."
Existing team mates NATS Services and Thales UK meanwhile announced the addition of VT Group to their bidding team, which will now operate under the name Aquila Air Traffic Management Services.
"The three companies bring proven expertise to satisfy the requirements of the JMATS programme," Aquila says.
Industry sources expect to receive a pre-qualification questionnaire for the JMATS programme around June, with a contract signature to follow within 18 to 24 months and operations to start in 2013.
Source: Flight International