BAE Assembles Team to Compete for FRES Contract

BAE Systems has assembled a team of companies to compete for the UK's Future Rapid Effect System (FRES) contract which will provide the armed forces with a fleet of medium-weight armoured vehicles.

The team, including Cranfield University, GE Aviation, QinetiQ, SAIC and Selex Sensors & Airborne Systems will compete for the role of Vehicle Integrator for the 'Utility' family of FRES.

The successful bidder will take an overseas vehicle design and customise, manufacture and support it through production to meet UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) requirements, BAE says.

The vehicle will be based on an eight-wheel design, currently under consideration by the MoD, and is expected to enter service from 2012.

The FRES programme is worth up to £16bn in the acquisition phase and will provide the British Army with up to 17 vehicle variants in five families.

By staff writer