✓Tender information last checkedLast checked 19 Oct 2026, 18:56.
Opportunity overview
The Authority is undertaking Preliminary Market Engagement to understand the availability, maturity and feasibility of Satellite Communications (SATCOM) provide secure Beyond Line-of-Sight (BLoS) connectivity for Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle (UAV) operations, enabling data exchange between the UAV and ground-based operators.
This activity is conducted in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 (Sections 16–17) and is for information gathering only. It does not form part of a formal tendering process and will not be used for supplier selection or down‑selection. Participation is voluntary. All communication related to this notice and form submission is at OFFICIAL.
Suppliers are invited to complete the following questionnaire to provide information on system capabilities, performance, navigation, deployment, interoperability, compliance, supportability and indicative commercial structures.
By submitting a response, suppliers confirm that all information provided is, to the best of their knowledge, true, complete and accurate.
The Authority may invite suppliers to follow‑on discussions where appropriate. Any future procurement activity will be conducted as a separate procurement process.
Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a TenderOpen source ↗
Published notice details
Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.
The UK MOD is seeking information from suppliers capable of providing low SWaP Satellite Communications (SATCOM) solutions for Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle (UAV) platforms. This preliminary market engagement is intended to improve our understanding of available technologies, integration considerations, commercial models and potential future capability development.
We welcome responses from defence suppliers, SMEs and commercial SATCOM providers with relevant solutions or innovative approaches.
To receive the Request for Information (RFI), please contact:
Danielle Daley
danielle.daley117@mod.gov.uk
Expressions of interest are requested by 26 October 2026.
Please note this is a market engagement activity only and does not constitute a procurement or invitation to tender.
Due
11 Dec 2026, 23:59
Status
scheduled
Documents
Entry 1
Id
098697-2026
Document Type
marketEngagementNotice
Notice Type
UK2
Description
Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Buyer location · London · UKI32 · SW1A 2EU · United Kingdom
Notice and amendment history
1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.
1 VERSION
1
098697-2026Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·
PROCURAAXIS ANALYSIS
ProcuraAxis Analysis
Our approved analysis of the opportunity appears below the official tender information.
ANALYSIS PREVIEW
Opportunity intelligence at a glance
Early-stage Ministry of Defence preliminary market engagement on SATCOM options for UAV operations. The Authority is gathering information on secure beyond-line-of-sight connectivity between UAVs and ground-based operators; this is not a tender or supplier-selection exercise.
Who this may suit
Relevant to organisations able to describe SATCOM system capabilities for UAV connectivity, including performance, navigation, deployment, interoperability, compliance, supportability and indicative commercial structures. Participation is voluntary; future procurement requirements are unknown.
Key points identified
Questionnaire responseProvide information on system capabilities, performance, navigation, deployment, interoperability, compliance, supportability and indicative commercial structures.Evidence: “Suppliers are invited to complete the following questionnaire to provide information on system capabilities, performance, navigation, deployment, interoperability, compliance, supportability and indicative commercial structures.”
Accuracy confirmationRespondents confirm submitted information is true, complete and accurate to the best of their knowledge.Evidence: “By submitting a response, suppliers confirm that all information provided is, to the best of their knowledge, true, complete and accurate.”
ParticipationVoluntary; no supplier eligibility criteria are stated.Evidence: “Participation is voluntary.”
95% approved-analysis confidence3 supplier criteria identified4 risks or unknowns
ProcuraAxis structures information found in published procurement records, checks the result for consistency and publishes only approved analysis. Confidence describes the completeness and consistency of the available source information; it is not a guarantee of eligibility or contract award.
Early-stage Ministry of Defence preliminary market engagement on SATCOM options for UAV operations. The Authority is gathering information on secure beyond-line-of-sight connectivity between UAVs and ground-based operators; this is not a tender or supplier-selection exercise.
Who this may suit
Relevant to organisations able to describe SATCOM system capabilities for UAV connectivity, including performance, navigation, deployment, interoperability, compliance, supportability and indicative commercial structures. Participation is voluntary; future procurement requirements are unknown.
Key deliverables
Completed market-engagement questionnaire
Information on system capabilities, performance, navigation, deployment, interoperability, compliance and supportability
Indicative commercial structures
SUPPLIER REQUIREMENTS
3 criteria identified
Questionnaire response
98% confidence
Provide information on system capabilities, performance, navigation, deployment, interoperability, compliance, supportability and indicative commercial structures.
View supporting evidence
“Suppliers are invited to complete the following questionnaire to provide information on system capabilities, performance, navigation, deployment, interoperability, compliance, supportability and indicative commercial structures.”
Accuracy confirmation
98% confidence
Respondents confirm submitted information is true, complete and accurate to the best of their knowledge.
View supporting evidence
“By submitting a response, suppliers confirm that all information provided is, to the best of their knowledge, true, complete and accurate.”
Participation
98% confidence
Voluntary; no supplier eligibility criteria are stated.
View supporting evidence
“Participation is voluntary.”
COMMERCIAL AND DELIVERY
Contract intelligence
Commercial
Commercial information
95% confidence
Indicative commercial structures are requested; no contract value or commercial terms are stated.
View supporting evidence
“Suppliers are invited to complete the following questionnaire to provide information on ... indicative commercial structures.”
Delivery
Communications classification
99% confidence
All notice-related communication and form submissions are at OFFICIAL.
View supporting evidence
“All communication related to this notice and form submission is at OFFICIAL.”
Operational context
97% confidence
SATCOM is being explored for secure BLoS connectivity between UAVs and ground-based operators.
View supporting evidence
“provide secure Beyond Line-of-Sight (BLoS) connectivity for Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle (UAV) operations, enabling data exchange between the UAV and ground-based operators.”
PROCEDURE
How to respond
Status
99% confidence
Upcoming/planned preliminary market engagement, not an open tender.
View supporting evidence
display_status: “upcoming”; stage: “planning”; “It does not form part of a formal tendering process”.
Legal basis
98% confidence
Conducted in accordance with Procurement Act 2023, Sections 16–17.
View supporting evidence
“This activity is conducted in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 (Sections 16–17)”
Supplier selection
99% confidence
Responses will not be used for supplier selection or down-selection.
View supporting evidence
“will not be used for supplier selection or down‑selection.”
Follow-on activity
98% confidence
The Authority may invite follow-on discussions; any future procurement would be separate.
View supporting evidence
“The Authority may invite suppliers to follow‑on discussions where appropriate. Any future procurement activity will be conducted as a separate procurement process.”
RISKS AND UNKNOWNS
Points requiring attention
Not a tender
99% confidence
This is information-gathering preliminary market engagement only. There is no stated submission deadline, procurement route, contract term, value, or future tender timetable.
View supporting evidence
“for information gathering only. It does not form part of a formal tendering process”; submission_deadline, procurement_method, value and contract dates are null.
Future opportunity uncertainty
99% confidence
Any future procurement will be separate; participation does not establish selection status.
View supporting evidence
“Any future procurement activity will be conducted as a separate procurement process”; “will not be used for supplier selection or down-selection.”
Lot detail limitation
99% confidence
A planning lot is present but has no title, description, value or deadline; no distinct lot scope can be attributed.
View supporting evidence
Lot 1 has null title, description, value_amount and submission_deadline.
Classification scope caution
97% confidence
The supplied CPV classifications include unmanned combat aerial vehicles, but the narrative refers generally to UAV operations and does not confirm a combat-UAV requirement.
ProcuraAxis analysis supplements, but does not replace, the original notice and tender documents. Always verify eligibility, deadlines and commercial terms with the issuing authority.
Continue in your ProcuraAxis workspaceFree account · Full approved analysis