Defence Medical Services awards Project Mercury contract to Avenue3
Above: Project Mercury equipment on display.
Courtesy Cyber & Specialist Operations Command / MoD Crown copyright
Developed for the Cyber & Specialist Operation Command’s Defence Medical Services, the Project Mercury application will enable military clinicians to view, record and share medical data on multiple devices whilst on global deployments, including in the most remote of locations where an internet connection isn’t possible.
The application uses Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, similar to how contactless card payments are made, enabling the transfer of data offline.
The new contract marks a major milestone – transitioning Project Mercury from its proof-of-concept phase into full implementation with the first live release expected in Spring 2026, with continued development and rollout throughout 2027.
Clinical Lead for Project Mercury at the Defence Medical Services, Lt Col Michael Claydon said: "Project Mercury is a real game changer and will help military clinicians provide effective and accurate care to deployed personnel no matter where in the world they are serving.
"Avenue3 is the ideal development partner for the delivery of the electronic health record the frontline medic needs. Through close engagement with UK and NATO clinicians and commanders we will rapidly optimise Mercury for current and future conflicts."
The contract award aligns with the Defence Industrial Strategy 2025 which outlines a commitment to increase MOD spending with Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
Alex McNair, Chief Technology Officer and Founder of Avenue3 added: "Project Mercury represents a major step forward in enabling safe, connected and resilient healthcare for deployed personnel. By building on open standards and a clinically led design approach, we’re helping to deliver world-class digital healthcare capabilities wherever they’re needed."
Above: Project Mercury demo.
MoD Crown copyright
The delivery phase was formally launched and celebrated at a recent event at the Green Howards Museum in Richmond, North Yorkshire which showcased historical medical equipment and the evolution of deployed medicine.
Project Mercury has been overseen and delivered by the Programme Cortisone team in collaboration with Defence Digital, who are working to deliver an ecosystem of Healthcare Information Services to replace outdated systems with a secure, modern platform.
