The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) has formally sustained its strategic collaboration with Nova Systems, focusing on the rigorous advancement of experimentation within synthetic environments to inform future capability development and key decision-making across major defence acquisition programmes.
This continuation of partnership signifies the MOD’s dedicated emphasis on leveraging innovation for achieving and maintaining operational advantage in a rapidly evolving threat landscape. For prime contractors and sub-contractors, this commitment underscores the growing procurement priority assigned to Modelling & Simulation (M&S) and sophisticated analytical services.
Nova Systems is positioned to augment the MOD’s capacity by integrating a distinctive combination of deep operational understanding with specialised expertise in analytics, M&S, and formal experimentation methodologies. This integrated approach ensures that derived insights are directly relevant to contemporary and prospective threats, supporting the expedited delivery of complex defence programmes. The core value proposition for the MOD is the ability to utilise advanced synthetic environments to rapidly test, iterate, and refine new capabilities, thereby providing objective evidence for programme acceleration and risk reduction—a foundational requirement articulated within the government’s Strategic Defence Review.
Group Captain Ruari Henderson-Begg, Chief Modelling and Simulation Officer for Air Command, confirmed that this initiative provides Air Command with the organic capability to conduct Air-focused experimentation. This process leverages Nova Systems’ established technical experience to enhance the MOD’s internal capacity, while ensuring the MOD retains critical ownership of the experimentation process. Furthermore, the collaboration is structured to maximise synergy with sister Services, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), and wider industry partners, fostering a collaborative ecosystem essential for the development cycle.
From an industrial perspective, Gareth Dyer, Managing Director of Nova Systems International, highlighted the central role of industry in meeting both current and future defence threats. The firm’s work with the MOD, specifically the blending of analytics, M&S, and operational expertise, is designed to enable the rapid, evidence-based development of capability. This sustained collaboration demonstrates the shared strategic ambition to deliver innovation at pace, which is necessary to ensure that the UK’s armed forces are equipped with qualified and tested materiel for future operational demands. This framework confirms synthetic environments as a significant area for future investment and supplier opportunity within the UK defence supply chain, focusing on providers who can deliver validated simulation and analytical services.
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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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