The Ministry of Defence (MOD) Acquisition Pipeline is a vital window into the future investment priorities of the UK’s defence apparatus. Through its derived pipeline, Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) has outlined an extensive schedule of upcoming requirements, signaling major contractual opportunities spanning the rest of this decade and beyond.
Analysis of “The DE&S Strategic Procurement Horizon” by our Business Intelligence Partner, DCI, reveals a combined projected value for new tenders, re-procurements, and contract extensions exceeding £22 billion, underscoring the enormous scale of planned defence spending and modernization efforts.
The Scope: New Requirements and Major Investments
DE&S plans to tender for 29 new requirements with a collective value of £13,860,737,049. This segment represents future capabilities and strategic expansions.
The sheer scale of this spending is demonstrated by the contract scheduled for publication in January 2026: the ‘Defence Test & Evaluation Services (Future) Contract. This contract holds the highest value among all new requirements, commanding a staggering £4,500,000,000. Structured over 15 years (180 months), this significant investment equates to an average value of £300,000,000 per year.
The pipeline for these new requirements is staggered:
• 8 requirements are anticipated for release in November/December 2025, with a combined value of £797,989,000.
• 9 requirements are slated for release during 2026, totaling £4,708,608,000.
• The remaining 12 requirements are scheduled between 2027 and 2031, valued at £289,837,344.
Sustaining Capability: The Re-procurement Landscape
Maintaining essential services and existing capabilities forms the other major component of the pipeline. DE&S intends to re-procure 21 requirements with a significant combined value of £8,333,997,705.
The vast majority of this re-procurement activity is concentrated in the year 2026, which is set to see the release of 16 requirements valued collectively at £8,151,142,705.
The highest value contract in the entire re-procurement portfolio is the ‘Naval Support Integrated Global Network (NSIGN) Ships & Associated Naval Bases Contracts’, scheduled for September 2026. This critical naval support package is valued at £7,889,095,141. With a planned duration of 10 years (120 months), this translates to an average annual value of £788,909,514.
In terms of near-term re-procurement, one requirement is scheduled for release in November 2025, valued at £16,835,000. Looking further ahead, four contracts are set for re-procurement between 2027 and 2028, with a combined value of £166,020,000.
Additionally, DE&S plans to extend three requirements with a combined value of £12,769,000.
Opportunities for SMEs and the Unknown Horizon
While the pipeline features multi-billion-pound contracts geared towards large prime contractors, DE&S has also specifically highlighted opportunities for smaller enterprises.
There are 10 new requirements that have been marked as having an SME opportunity, which together are valued at £225,833,690. This indicates a commitment to utilizing the innovation and flexibility of Small and Medium Enterprises within the defence supply chain.
Summary of Strategic Importance
This detailed strategic horizon provides invaluable insight for industry partners, revealing not only where the bulk of the MOD’s resources are being directed – such as crucial test and evaluation services (£4.5B) and vital naval support (£7.89B) – but also the specific timelines for engagement. The clustering of major tenders and re-procurements in 2026, alongside the immediate opportunities in late 2025, emphasises that the next 12 to 18 months will be a period of intense activity and competition in the defence procurement space.
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Post written by: Vicky Maggiani
Vicky has worked in media for over 25 years and has a wealth of experience in editing and creating copy for a variety of sectors.
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