MOD allocates £113m for 25 new Close Find Radar under SERPENS

The UK’s Ministry of Defence (MOD) is bolstering its “Project SERPENS” digitally integrated weapon locating system to the tune of £112.8 million with the planned addition of 25 new Close Find Radar (CFR) systems.

MOD’s procurement arm, Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) said on April 22 that it is “estimating equipment deliveries within no more than two (2) years followed by four (4) years of in-service support.”

It added in a market notice that the SERPENS assets will deploy as “artillery weapon locating sensors and radars which will be installed onto in-service land vehicles and integrated with communications bearer networks.” 

The procurement is part of MOD’s ongoing recapitalisation of British Army weapons locating capabilities. 

Project SERPENS

SERPENS launched in 2018 to replace a trio of such radars: the Hostile Artillery Locating system, the AN/TPQ-49 lightweight counter-mortar radar, and Saab’s Mamba; all of which were due to retire by 2026. (The latter is being replaced by SaaB Taipan radar; five were accepted by the 5th Regiment Royal Artillery in June 2024.)

Janes meanwhile reported in 2023 that the UK will join other NATO members in buying the Thales Nederland Ground Master 200 (GM200) multimission radar under SERPENS. 

"[The] Focus is on high technological readiness with priority on key requirements following which development will focus on the mounting of radar assets onto vehicles, integration with inservice comms bearer/s and, in future, integration into SERPENS as a networked array of sensors. 

"SERPENS reserves the right to procure additional CFR systems during the performance period of any resultant contract, for the purposes of counter rocket, artillery and mortar (C-RAM), or counter unmanned aerial surveillance (C-UAS), or any other air defence or surveillance roles. 

“The in-service support provisions of any contract awarded may be extended to provide the same, or similar, support services towards any additional systems procured under the performance of the contract. For the avoidance of doubt, a permitted modification/direct award may be made in the event that additional goods and/or services are to be procured for the same or similar use cases by the Armed Forces." DE&S

DE&S wants expressions of interest by no later than 21 May 2025.