PICASSO is an enduring capability program that provides UK Defense with an integrated information environment for the exploitation, production and dissemination of geospatial intelligence (GEOINT). PICASSO outputs enable UK Armed Forces and Partners across Government (PAG) to undertake informed decision making to fulfil their role in a safe and legal manner in support of national security tasks. A collection of legacy systems, the program is gradually being moved to a common service management model delivered with industry standard approaches to service management, agile development and delivery.

Through this award, Leidos will introduce a number of modernization initiatives to improve service delivery, user experience, agile change and overall program transparency.  Specifically modernizing infrastructure, storage and end user access will be carried out in an agile manner, in collaboration with the MoD’s internal service provider community.

“We’re proud to continue our support of the UK and Five eyes community – providing innovations and deploying efficient and effective capabilities and technologies,” said Simon Fovargue, chief executive, Leidos UK & Europe. “By leveraging our technical, engineering and software expertise, our teams will work to advance the MOD’s agile and modernization efforts, providing our nation’s leaders, military and allies with actionable intelligence and critical information to protect and defend our military, government and international partners.”

Source: Leidos

If you enjoyed this article, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. Your support helps keep our site ad-free.

The post Leidos UK MOD PICASSO contract appeared first on Intelligence Community News.

Ten tech start-ups successfully secured same-day contracts worth up to £53,000 ($66,000) to fast-track the development of their innovations after pitching direct to UK, US and NATO military leaders.

Air Vice-Marshal Harvey Smyth, UK Director Space, unveiled the winners following an afternoon of pitches in front of a global audience during the first day of the Defence Space Conference hosted from London.

It is the first time two nations anywhere in the world have come together to award defense contracts based around a pitch-style event, similar to Dragon’s Den/Shark Tank. It is also the first time two nations have awarded joint defense innovation contracts to an overseas-based enterprise in this way. And it is the first time same-day contracts have been awarded in this way to industry by the UK Ministry of Defence.

Air Vice-Marshal Smyth said, “Congratulations to the winners and all those that took part in the first International Space Pitch Day – it has captured the imagination of innovators and militaries not just across the UK and US, but all over the world. It has achieved several world firsts and we look forward to building on its success as we seek to fast-track innovation and cutting-edge technology to the front line quicker than ever before with fresh ways of working with industry to make sure we stay ahead of our shared adversaries and the threats they pose.”

Dr. Will Roper, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, said, “Pitch Days open the government’s aperture to work with commercially-focused companies. Competing for technology outside of our fence lines has been a major U.S. Air Force and Space Force theme. Partnering with our allies to compete globally is the natural evolution. Space is especially exciting with so many ideas brought to the table by these firms, and I’m confident international space cooperation has a bright future.”

Gary Aitkenhead, Dstl chief executive, said, “International Space Pitch Day represents an innovative way of working, ensuring that UK and US Defence are able to keep up with the rapid pace of commercial technology development. We aim to connect world-class space innovation to military end-users at pace, supported by business and commercialization training.”

The winning companies are:

• 114 AI Innovation Ltd (India)
• Clearbox Systems Pty Ltd (Australia)
• Clutch Space Systems Ltd (UK)
• Cognitive Space, Inc. (US)
• precursor SPC (US)
• Riskaware Ltd and Telespazio Vega UK (UK)
• Rocket Communications (US)
• Slingshot Aerospace, Inc. (US)
• Spire Global UK (UK)
• ai, Inc. (US)

Source: UK Government

The post UK Government announces International Space Pitch Day winners appeared first on Intelligence Community News.

Under this competitively awarded, seven-year framework contract, Northrop Grumman will provide engineering and development services in support of data security and information assurance.

“As a long-standing partner with the U.K. government, we are proud to have been selected to support the security of their digital domain and the protection of its citizens,” said Kathy Warden, corporate vice president and president, Northrop Grumman Information Systems. “With more than 30 years of cyber security expertise that has been developed and deployed around the world, we look forward to continuing our work with some of the brightest industry and academic minds to deliver world class operational performance, scaled to the mission, and to increase our U.K.-based workforce that will support cyber innovators of the future.”

“We have a well-established and growing presence in the U.K. and this strategically important contract award reflects the strong customer relationships that we have established here over the years,” said Andrew Tyler, chief executive for Europe, Northrop Grumman. “We are committed to strengthening this partnership and to bringing our advanced cyber technologies and deep understanding of today’s global security threats to this programme.”

Northrop Grumman continues to invest in U.K.-based cyber security capabilities with new facilities in England, where it has set up an Advanced Cyber Technology Centre of Excellence, a global collaboration initiative to advance high-end solutions to our customers’ most challenging cyber problems.

Northrop Grumman is also investing in the development of the next generation of cyber specialists. The company entered into a partnership with Cyber Security Challenge U.K. under which it has launched the youth-based cyber defense competition CyberCenturion in the U.K. aimed at building tomorrow’s cyber workforce. Northrop Grumman is also mentoring a diverse set of small and medium enterprise partners and investing in research and development with select U.K. university partners.

Source: Northrop Grumman Corp.

The post Northrop Grumman awarded cyber security contract by UK government appeared first on Intelligence Community News.