Leidos to deliver THOR for MoD

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Under the seven-year contract, Leidos will work to deliver a scalable MetOc data and services capability (THOR) providing the MoD with enhanced environmental insights.

Jo Etheridge, vice president and managing director for national security and defence at Leidos UK & Europe, said: “Weather is a critical component in military activity, be that delivering effects in challenging conditions at sea, conducting continuous air operations or safeguarding troops in climatic extremes. Leidos is delighted to be working with the Ministry of Defence on developing this new service, enhancing our substantial contribution to Defence Intelligence.

"By leveraging our credentials in geospatial and mission software development from across the UK, Australia and the US and by collaborating with our specialist network of partners and subject matter experts, we will work to develop vital capabilities to collect and share information that is crucial for the UK and our allies’ military operations across the globe.

"Leidos has extensive experience in delivering innovative digital modernisation solutions that address some of the most complex challenges facing governments today and we look forward to adding new value during our project with the MoD.”

Building upon the company’s current work in modernising the underpinning service management within the National Centre for Geospatial Intelligence, Leidos provides assured collection, processing and distribution of meteorological and oceanographic data and services. THOR’s contribution to the UK’s Geospatial Intelligence capability will support a range of vital activities, from tactical military deployments to broader strategic planning, giving UK personnel the edge in understanding and harnessing the environment on operations.

Under the contract, Leidos, in collaboration with the MoD’s internal service provider community, will use agile methodologies to focus on modernising infrastructure, storage and user access.

MoD Joint Operational Meteorology & Oceanography Centre (JOMOC) and IMAGE Delivery team said: “JOMOC are looking forward to working with Leidos in delivering this new vital meteorological and oceanographic capability to MoD. This comes at a point where demand for MetOc support in Defence is at a record high and we are entering an unprecedented period of science and technological change in the next five to seven years, which THOR will form a critical part of this change.

“This is a very exciting time for Defence Digital with the beginning of this project marking an important step in the development and delivery of this new meteorological and oceanographic capability. THOR aligns to the principles of re-using Defence cloud technologies and developing future UK. Defence MetOc integration with NATO and other allies. We are looking forward to working with Leidos in the coming years on the successful delivery of this crucial military service for the MoD.”