Hampshire firms have their eyes on £1bn MoD deal
Hampshire air traffic controllers are bidding for a slice of a deal believed to be worth around £1bn.
National Air Traffic Services Ltd, with operations in Swanwick, is linking arms with the VT Group and weapons firm Thales to bid for a contract to handle all of the UK's military air traffic systems.
NATS already tracks and communicates with MoD aircraft when they are airbourne in UK airspace.
But this new deal would see the firm poised to handle the take-off and landing of British military air fleet as well.
No one at NATS would speak to The News about the project.
A spokeswoman would simply say it was 'very early days' and no further detail was available.
But one source estimated the deal, set to last for 22 years, would be worth 'in the region' of 1bn.
The VT Group, headquartered in Hedge End, would handle the construction of any new air traffic control towers and buildings.
Thales, based in Surrey, would build the air traffic control software and hardware.
And NATS would provide the staff to control the aircraft at the RAF's airbases up and down the country.
The consortium which the three companies have formed is called Aquila – Latin for eagle.
But it is expected to be just one of many bidding for the deal, called the JMATS programme, standing for Joint Military Air Traffic Services.
The preferred bidder for the vast contract is expected to be announced in 2013.
Thales is leading the deal, but, like NATS, it refused to answer questions about it.
Instead, in a statement its UK CEO Alex Dorrian said:
'This programme requires an innovative approach to fulfil the long-term needs of military air traffic control and Aquila brings together the right combination of companies with the necessary technical skills and service ethos.'
VT's Phil Rood said: 'JMATS is a major project to replace the UK military's air traffic control infrastructure and Aquila brings together three companies with the pedigree and expertise to provide the best solution for this exciting programme.'
The MoD said it is unable to confirm the value of the contract, because it remains 'commercial in confidence.'
Studies in 2004 revealed that much of the MoD's air traffic control equipment is nearly obsolete, and would require significant investment to bring it up to scratch.
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Tuesday 22 May 2012
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