Thales and RAF to continue information exploitation partnership

The UK Ministry of Defence has confirmed its continuing partnership with Thales to support and develop its primary information management system for air operations. The UK MOD’s Intelligence Surveillance Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance Mission Support System (ISTAR MSS) has long been the backbone for Royal Air Force information management. A new, five-year contract signed in April 2021 confirms and extends the longstanding relationship between the UK MOD and Thales to provide this capability, under the new name “Multi-Domain Mission Support System” or MD MSS.

MD MSS exemplifies the UK’s investment in transformative and digital capabilities to enable the nation’s Armed Forces to obtain and exploit information at the operating speed of relevance. 

The £47 million contract with global technology provider Thales assures the system’s availability as well as its evolution to meet future challenges. In addition to repairs and maintenance through a helpdesk facility, a key element of the contract is the spiral development of MD MSS, adding new, user-prioritised capabilities and technologies in agreement with the customer’s lead agency, Defence Equipment and Support (MOD).