The MOD is looking to strengthen the security of maritime operations in order to better combat activities such as gun-running, people-smuggling and piracy.
International crime is increasingly putting the security of trade and maritime operations at risk. Maritime Constabulary Operations and Maritime Security Operations already use the full range of tools at the disposal of the Royal Navy, but it can be difficult to separate the few illegal operations from the vast number of legitimate civilian activities.
As a result, the MOD is seeking research proposals from industry and academia to provide innovative new ways of strengthening the UK’s response and mitigating the risks to trade and shipping. Areas of interest include:
• boosting the detection of piracy or weapons and unlawful goods transportation at sea
• developing new technology that can provide non-lethal and non-destructive of intercepting vessels carrying out unlawful activities
• developing tools and training aids which provide feedback on the marksmanship accuracy needed to enhance military performance
The proposals are being sought by the MOD’s Centre for Defence Enterprise (CDE), part of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl). David Sherburn, who leads the maritime research programme at Dstl, said:
“It’s vitally important we reach out to industry and academia which have experience with equipment delivery, technology development and innovation to ensure we get the broadest and most coherent science and technology package of ideas and solutions for the front line commands.”
This latest call for proposals launched on Thursday 24 January 2013 and will close on Monday 25 February 2013 at 5pm. You can also register at www.science.mod.uk for an online ‘webinar’ on 5 February to participate in a summary of the call and a Q&A session.
