Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide

Defence

QinetiQ wins $170m US TARS contract

QinetiQ Group plc has won a five-year $170 million contract with the US Department of Homeland Security for the Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS).

Image courtesy QinetiQ

TARS is the largest new business competitive win for Avantus since our acquisition last year and builds on recent significant contract awards, reported in our Interim Results last week.

This win takes the total new contract awards this year for Avantus to $827 million, equivalent to more than over two and a half years of revenue cover. These major contract wins deliver new incremental business, building momentum to deliver strong revenue growth in the second half of this year and beyond, underpinning our confidence that Avantus will deliver double-digit revenue growth at stable margin into the medium term.

Advertisement
ODU RT

Avantus has transformed our customer access in the US, expanding our customer base and creating a disruptive mid-tier business in the US. During the first half of the year, we have also identified new business opportunities worth an additional $1.5bn over the next five years, created through the combination of capabilities across the US and our other markets to drive our future growth plan.

TARS provides detection, tracking and monitoring capabilities in diverse environments at and beyond the US borders. Under this five-year contract, QinetiQ will deliver aerostat operations, air-surface radar operations, ground control and data networking systems monitoring, and data analysis in support of border security and air sovereignty missions. The programme will be delivered through the provision of mission support, operations and maintenance, and lifecycle and programme management.

Steve Wadey, Group Chief Executive Officer of QinetiQ, said: “Winning TARS is another significant and exciting milestone in the US – a clear demonstration of Avantus delivering growth. TARS is an integral part of our customer’s mission to protect the US border and a critical capability to US national security. This win further reinforces our growth plan for Avantus and our wider business in the US.”
 

 

Advertisement
PTC rectangle

 

 

Advertisement
FIA2026 animated banner
Spectra launches GENSS production version

Defence Space Events

Spectra launches GENSS production version

23 March 2026

Spectra Group (UK) Ltd, specialists in delivering secure, reliable and resilient beyond line-of-sight communications for operations in denied and contested environments, has formally launched the production version of GENSS at the Satellite Show.

Marshall Land Systems partners with Tecnove

Defence Security

Marshall Land Systems partners with Tecnove

23 March 2026

Marshall Land Systems and the Tecnove Business Group have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore and develop collaborative opportunities across the defence, medical and industrial sectors.

Global Innovation Centre opened by ePropelled in Coventry

Aerospace Defence Security

Global Innovation Centre opened by ePropelled in Coventry

23 March 2026

Provider of smart propulsion solutions and energy management systems for uncrewed vehicles, ePropelled, has opened its new Global Innovation Centre in Coventry, expanding the UK’s sovereign capability in electric and hybrid propulsion as the company scales toward producing more than one million propulsion systems annually by 2027.

BAE Systems partners with Knightec Group Brazil on vehicle component

Defence

BAE Systems partners with Knightec Group Brazil on vehicle component

20 March 2026

BAE Systems Hägglunds – the Swedish makers of the BvS10 and CV90 military vehicles – has begun working with Knightec Group Brazil (formerly Semcon Brazil), transferring technology and creating jobs in Resende, Rio de Janeiro.

Advertisement
PTC rectangle
Rotron acquired by Ondas

Defence

Rotron acquired by Ondas

20 March 2026

UK-based advanced defence technology company, Rotron Aerospace Ltd, today announced the completion of its acquisition by Ondas Inc.

Babcock awarded MoD white fleet management contract

Defence

Babcock awarded MoD white fleet management contract

19 March 2026

Babcock has been awarded a five-year contract by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) for the service and management of its white fleet of vehicles, including cars, vans, trucks and specialist vehicles.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Advertisement
FIA2026 animated banner