MOD Publishes £64.5m Notice to Upgrade Armoured Vehicles

Land January 6, 2026

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has formalised its intent to modernise the British Army’s heavy engineering capabilities through a £64.5 million mid-life update (MLU) for the Titan and Trojan armoured vehicles. According to a transparency notice published by Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), the proposed contract is set to be awarded to Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) as the prime contractor.

This strategic investment, valued at £64.5 million excluding VAT—or approximately £76 million including VAT—is scheduled to commence in late 2026, with the earliest expected contract signing date listed as 15 December 2026. The programme is projected to span seven years, concluding at the end of 2033, and is designed to sustain the operational relevance of these critical assets within the UK’s evolving armoured force.

The MLU will be executed across two primary phases, providing a structured roadmap for technical development and industrial execution. Phase 1 is dedicated to design, development, and demonstration, while Phase 2 transitions into manufacture and embodiment. For businesses within the UK defence supply chain, the Phase 2 requirements are of particular significance.

The MoD has specified that RBSL is required to subcontract the embodiment work aspect of the programme in accordance with the extant Land Environment Service Provision and Transformation Contract. This mandate ensures that while RBSL provides the overarching design authority, there are tangible opportunities for sub-contractors and SMEs to engage in the manufacturing and vehicle integration stages of the project.

The MoD’s justification for a direct award to RBSL centres on the company’s role as the Original Equipment Manufacturer and Design Authority for the Titan and Trojan fleet. Both vehicles are based on the Challenger 2 chassis, and the authority maintains that RBSL holds the unique technical expertise and intellectual property required to deliver the update without compromising safety or interoperability. By pursuing a sole-source strategy, the MoD aims to mitigate capability risks that might arise from alternative providers lacking the requisite technical baseline for such a complex integration task.

The Titan and Trojan vehicles remain vital to the British Army’s manoeuvrability, providing essential services such as assault bridging, obstacle clearance, and route opening in high-threat environments. As the Army continues its wider modernisation efforts, this MLU ensures the supporting engineering fleet remains compatible with future frontline requirements.

All work associated with the programme is expected to be conducted within the United Kingdom, supporting domestic engineering skills and the broader land industrial base. This notice serves as a definitive indicator of the MoD’s long-term commitment to its heavy armoured capabilities and provides a clear signal for suppliers to prepare for the subcontracting requirements inherent in the programme’s manufacture phase.

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