19 Nov 25. Strategic Defence Review – Energetics Information Notice
Ministry of Defence
Published date: 19 November 2025
Last edited date: 19 November 2025
This notice was replaced on 19 November 2025
This notice does not contain the most up-to-date information about this procurement. The most recent notice is:
Early engagement (published 19 November 2025, last edited 9 December 2025)
Open early engagement – This means that a procurement idea is currently active, it is in the early stage of development and judging interest from potential suppliers.
Contract summary
Industry
- Military research and technology – 73410000
Location of contract
BS34 8JH
Procurement reference tender_512494/1533156
Published date: 19 November 2025
Closing date: 15 December 2025
Contract is suitable for SMEs?: Yes
Contract is suitable for VCSEs? No
Description
UK government is acting on the Strategic Defence Review’s recommendations by investing in an ‘always on’ pipeline for munitions including building at least six new energetics and munitions factories in the UK.
The User requires the manufacture of the following Energetic Materials:
- RDX (Bachman or Woolwich)
- HMX
- Trinitrotoluene (TNT)
- Nitrocellulose (NC)
- Nitroglycerine (NG)
- Nitroguanidine (NQ)
- Hexanitrostilbene (HNS)
- Ammonium Perchlorate (AP)
- Boron Potassium Nitrate (BKNO3)
Other materials in the following classes: High explosives, Propellants, Ignitors, Detonators, Pyrotechnics, may be considered on an exceptional basis. Proposals will be sought which demonstrate economic and technical viability with capital available for investment.
Additionally, the Authority welcomes expressions of interest from consumers who wish to establish a supply of these materials for current facilities (domestic or exports) or aim to establish a capability in the UK which will rely on them.
Overview:
The Strategic Defence Review sets out the ambition of moving to warfighting readiness through a whole-of-society approach ensuring an engine for growth through a new partnership with industry, radical procurement reforms, and backing businesses to establish and grow in the UK.
The MoD aims to achieve this through a coherent set of significant multi-year investments in onshore energetic materials synthesis through UK-based or overseas-based suppliers. These investments will typically form part, but not all, of the funding required for the establishment of a facility.
During the formal tender documentation process, suppliers should consider how they will generate UK growth. Companies with established order books/markets will be prioritised. Proposals must demonstrate that they are economically and technically viable to progress.
Consideration should also be given to:
- The scale of the proposed facility and the market demand required to support it:
1.1 Proposals should assume a range of scenarios such as surge demand and reduced or minimal UK MoD demand.
1.2 Other offtakes, such as exports and civilian markets, should be considered and are expected to form the majority of the demand signal. UK government, via the MoD’s Defence Exports team, will actively support export campaigns.
2 Economic viability including fluctuating demand and market prices.
2.1 Proposals should be economically viable as further support funding for facilities is not envisioned.
3 The level of investment required (VROM) and how this will be raised:
3.1 Including internal company investment and external venture capital
3.2 It is expected that MoD funding will not form the majority of funding for proposals.
4 Wider requirements to establish a facility including:
4.1 Regulatory
4.2 Skills
4.3 Export support (including UKEF)
4.4 Technology
4.5 Sites
(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
08 Dec 25. US Navy wants new railroad car to transport unarmed ballistic missiles. The U.S. Navy wants a special railroad car to transport unarmed ballistic missiles, according to a recent request for information. The problem is that existing railcars are almost 50 years old, and will soon be retired. But the Navy still has a need to transport Active Inert Missiles, which are dummy rockets used to practice tasks such as loading missile tubes. Currently, the Navy uses the DODX 40000, a 150-ton flatbed designed by the U.S. Army in 1981 to carry cargo such as tanks, and which is slated to be demilitarized in 2031.
“The Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM) program initially procured these flatcars for the transportation of Active Inert Missiles (AIMs) between facilities,” according to the Navy RFI published Nov. 24. “However, the current 3-axle, 6-wheel truck design is now obsolete, and the American Association of Railroads (AAR) will not grant an extension of their service life.”
While the RFI did not provide specific requirements for the next-generation railcar, the DODX 40000 is 68 feet long, and has a maximum loading capacity of 140 tons. It is designed to carry two M1 Abrams tanks, and can haul cranes, shipping containers and other large items. In recent years, the Navy has sought other rail improvements. Navy Munitions Command Atlantic plans to replace its 200-strong fleet of boxcars and flatcars that haul munitions.
“Critical brake system components are no longer manufactured, requiring cannibalization of parts from decommissioned railcars to keep the fleet operational,” noted Military News. “Several railcars have recently been retired due to structural frame cracks and issues caused by accelerated wear, gradually reducing the fleet size.”
Meanwhile, the Navy and the Department of Energy have collaborated to design armored railcars to transport spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste. The Atlas system includes a 12-axle railcar to carry nuclear material. Riding shotgun is the Rail Escort Vehicle, which will carry security guards, cameras and communications equipment. The impending retirement of the DODX 40000 is just one more strain on the military rail system, which remains the most efficient and economical mode of transports for tasks such as moving heavy equipment from bases to training ranges or to ports for overseas assignments. A 2021 GAO report on Army rail found numerous problems that are hampering the network.
“Although the Army moves the majority of what it needs for a large-scale combat operation over its rail network in CONUS [continental U.S.], much of that track is in ‘red’ or poor condition,” Diana Moldafsky, an acting director of GAO’s Defense Capabilities and Management Team, told Defense News. “Additionally, DOD hadn’t figured out how many rail operating crews it needed to support this type of movement and lacked elements of a quality assurance and quality control program for conducting its inspections.”
“We didn’t focus on the flatcars specifically, but the issue of using aging flatcars was brought up as a challenge as well,” Moldafsky added.
While the 2021 study only looked at Army rail, the Navy will face the same obstacles.
“Due to the condition of the rail track, any designing of special rail cars to transport items such as dummy ballistic missiles would require a number of considerations to ensure the safe movement of those type of loads,” Moldafsky said. (Source: Defense News)
09 Dec 25. Next-Gen 40mm Airburst Ammo to Arm MK19 Grenade Launcher for Tactical Counter-Drone Defence. The U.S. Army is moving to equip its MK19 40 mm automatic grenade launchers with programmable airburst counter-drone ammunition under a new Cornerstone Other Transaction initiative posted on SAM.gov. The effort would push dedicated, low-cost air defense against small unmanned aircraft down to squad and platoon level, tightening protection for vehicles, outposts, and maneuver units. The U.S. Department of War signaled a new phase in its fight against small unmanned aerial systems by preparing a 40 mm Counter Unmanned Aerial System (CUAS) capability for the MK19 automatic grenade launcher, as published on SAM.gov. Through a Special Notice issued under the Cornerstone Other Transaction Agreement, the Army outlines plans for programmable air-burst munitions designed specifically to defeat drones. The step reflects lessons from recent conflicts where commercial and military UAVs have become routine tools for surveillance and precision attack against ground forces and fixed sites. At the same time, allied nations report a steady rise in suspicious drone sightings over military and critical infrastructure in regions such as Europe, confirming that low-cost UAS are now a persistent security concern. For the U.S. Army, giving ground troops a dedicated CUAS ammunition family for a widely deployed weapon marks an attempt to push air defense capabilities down to the tactical edge. The Special Notice describes how the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command – Chemical Biological Center (DEVCOM CBC), acting on behalf of the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy, intends to launch a competitive Cornerstone Initiative Request for a 40 mm CUAS solution. The objective is to integrate advanced proximity-sensing fuze technology into programmable 40×53 mm air-burst cartridges for the MK19, turning a long-serving grenade machine gun into a specialized counter-drone effector. This effort is framed as a complete system: not only a new cartridge, but also the required detection, tracking, targeting and defeat functions, with seamless integration into existing weapon platforms, fire-control systems and remote weapon stations. By insisting on compatibility with current MK19 mounts and remote stations, the Army aims to minimize the need for new hardware while enabling vehicles, perimeter towers and dismounted units already equipped with the weapon to adopt the CUAS role through an ammunition and software upgrade. The MK19 offers a robust platform for this evolution. Introduced during the Vietnam War and fielded widely in the late 1960s and 1970s, the belt‑fed 40 mm automatic grenade launcher is a standard support weapon across U.S. services and numerous allied forces. Its 40×53 mm high‑velocity cartridges, sustained rate of fire, and effective engagement ranges, approximately 1.5 km against point targets and beyond 2 km against area targets, have established it as a reliable choice for convoy protection, base defense, and direct fire support.
Recent industry trials with time‑programmed and air‑burst munitions have demonstrated that the launcher’s basic mechanism can accommodate more sophisticated fuze functions. The CUAS initiative advances this capability by specifying proximity‑sensing fuzes that detect an unmanned aerial system and detonate at an optimal distance, markedly improving the probability of defeat against small, agile targets without requiring a direct hit. This concept follows the precedent of adapting legacy munitions, such as guidance and fuze kits for Hydra 70 rockets, to create tailored counter‑drone effects. From an operational standpoint, 40 mm counter-unmanned aerial system (CUAS) ammunition occupies a distinct role within layered air defense architectures. High-end gun systems such as 30 mm and 35 mm turrets with programmable rounds and missile-based solutions deliver superior range and hit probability, yet they remain costly, limited in availability, and typically confined to larger platforms. In contrast, the MK19 launcher is already integrated across a broad spectrum of light and armored vehicles, as well as employed on tripods for dismounted missions and on naval mounts. Outfitting these existing systems with programmable proximity-fuzed ammunition and the corresponding fire-control enhancements would provide platoons, company-level units, and base defense teams with an organic, high-capacity hard-kill capability against low, slow, and small drones within short-range engagements.
The comparatively low cost of 40 mm ammunition relative to missile systems further positions it as an efficient option for countering frequent, low-value aerial threats such as commercial quadcopters used for reconnaissance or ordnance delivery. The primary constraint remains projectile velocity and flight trajectory; grenade rounds travel more slowly than cannon shells, limiting their effectiveness against fast or highly maneuverable targets and underscoring the need for precise sensor cueing and advanced fire control. Routing this development effort through the Cornerstone Other Transaction Authority (OTA) reflects strategic intent beyond the immediate tactical advantage. The Cornerstone initiative was established to enhance the U.S. defense industrial base by fostering enduring partnerships between the government and a consortium of industry participants, and this CUAS program aligns directly with that objective.
Leveraging this framework enables the Department of Defense not only to prototype a critical capability but also to cultivate an industrial ecosystem capable of sustaining the production of advanced 40 mm munitions and their supporting electronic components. The increased prevalence of drones in conflicts ranging from the Middle East to Eastern Europe, along with their growing appearance over domestic military sites, suggests that demand for anti-drone munitions will continue to rise. Tying the development of a new 40 mm CUAS round to the widely fielded MK19 therefore achieves dual goals: it delivers a practical counter-drone solution to front-line forces and embeds a new class of programmable munitions within a structured, resilient industrial base. By turning a legacy grenade launcher into a dedicated counter-drone platform, the U.S. Army is responding to a clear operational trend: ground forces can no longer rely solely on high-end air defense units to deal with small unmanned aircraft. If the forthcoming Cornerstone Initiative Request leads to a successful prototype and follow-on production, MK19 crews could gain the ability to engage drones with tailored 40 mm air-burst rounds from positions and vehicles they already occupy. At a time when small UAS are proliferating over front lines, supply convoys and even training areas, the move to field 40 mm CUAS ammunition signals a broader shift toward making every echelon of ground troops part of an integrated counter-drone architecture, rather than leaving the mission to specialized systems alone. (Source: UAS VISION/Army Recognition)
05 Dec 25. Czech group CSG signs Slovak deal for EU ammunition supply worth up to 58bn euros.
- Summary
- CSG unit ZVS Holding signs 7-year ammunition deal with Slovakia
- Slovakia offers EU states to join framework agreement under SAFE
- CSG growing player in defence sector
Czech defence group CSG has signed a framework deal with Slovakia’s defence ministry to supply ammunition to EU states worth up to 58bn euros ($67.54bn). CSG said its Slovak subsidiary ZVS Holding, which is jointly owned with Slovakia, concluded the seven-year deal, with purchases potentially financed under the European Union’s SAFE programme, which offers long-term loans to strengthen defence capabilities. Slovakia, like other European countries, is seeking to build its defence industry as the EU and NATO boost spending in response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. CSG, owned by 33-year-old billionaire Michal Strnad, has grown into a major player and is among Europe’s largest makers of artillery ammunition for NATO countries and Ukraine. The company has recently considered an initial public offering to fund further expansion.
OFFER TO EU STATES TO JOIN
The value of the deal reflects the maximum potential volume of deliveries and based on available production capacity, CSG said. ZVS Holding will supply 155 mm artillery ammunition, 120 mm tank ammunition, and 30 mm and 35 mm cannon ammunition for Slovakia and other EU member states, it said in a statement with the Slovak ministry. Slovakia is offering EU member states the opportunity to join the framework agreement. Under SAFE, Slovakia aims to draw 2.3bn euros, of which 38.5m euros is for the purchase of large- and medium-caliber ammunition. “Slovakia has the ambition to become a leader in the supply of large- and medium-caliber ammunition for EU member states,” Defence Minister Robert Kalinak said.
CSG ON UPSWING
CSG has grown in the past year following a $2.2 bn acquisition of U.S.-based small-calibre ammunition maker Kinetic Group last year. In the first three quarters this year, CSG reported revenue of 4.49bn euros ($5.2bn) while operating profit (EBIT) rose by 77% to 1.10bn euros. It has an order backlog of 14bn euros. European defence-related stocks have been among the best-performing this year, with a STOXX index of aerospace and defence companies (.SXPARO), up around 50%. While prospects of peace in Ukraine have brought some stock volatility, analysts see the sector supported by rising defence spending despite any potential deal ending the war. ($1 = 0.8587 euros) (Source: Reuters)
05 Dec 25. NGC to Produce High Explosive Proximity for the US Army. The U.S. Army has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) a contract valued over $200 m to produce the XM1211 High Explosive Proximity (HEP) fuzed round of medium caliber ammunition. This award is a significant milestone in delivering next-generation munitions for short range air defense against small Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS).
- The XM1211 is a 30x113mm round integrated with a proximity sensor that only needs to get close enough to detect a target, at which point it detonates, sending fragmentation for defeat.
- Designed and produced in conjunction with the U.S. Army Joint Program Executive Office for Armaments & Ammunition, Project Manager Maneuver Ammunition Systems (PM MAS) and U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM), the XM1211 is ideal for use against small UAS and is designated for use with Northrop Grumman’s XM914, and M230LF Bushmaster® Chain Guns®.
- Northrop Grumman and PM MAS rapidly developed the round to meet an urgent materiel release in 2021 and are now accelerating ramp-up and capacity expansion to meet increased domestic and international demand.
- Production will occur at Northrop Grumman’s facilities in Plymouth and Elk River, Minnesota; Allegany Ballistics Laboratory, West Virginia; and Radford Ammunition Plant, Virgina.
Dave Fine, vice president, armament systems, Northrop Grumman: “As the only qualified producer of the XM1211 proximity round, Northrop Grumman is uniquely positioned to deliver this urgent need for advanced munitions with speed. Our partnership with the U.S. Army drives innovation and ensures that we meet the critical needs of soldiers on the battlefield today.”
For nearly 40 years, Northrop Grumman’s innovations in ammunition have led to cutting-edge defenses. Today, the company is adapting to emerging threats by developing new types of medium caliber “advanced” ammunition including airburst, proximity, and guided munitions to provide greater precision and the ability to counter unmanned threats and to defeat advanced armor. (Source: ASD Network)