British army - Crossing The Gap, market exploration.

The British Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) is scoping the potential for a competition to demonstrate short gap crossing capability for use within the military context.

Trojan of the British Royal Engineers (Picture source: D.R.)

On behalf of the British Army, the British Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) is trying to better understand the current market capability in meeting this challenge in order to fully scope and better design a potential future concept demonstration event or competition. This will provide DASA with an understanding of what potential gap crossing solutions already exist as well as emerging novel solutions. This request for information is not a commitment to subsequently launch a formal DASA competition.

Gap crossing is critical in maintaining military mobility. In the past, this capability has been delivered by specialist equipment and systems, however it is perceived that with changes in materials and manufacturing techniques, combined with the changing operational landscape, there is an opportunity to do things differently. The current capability is delivered through obstacle crossing techniques including the use of fascine (bundled plastic pipes or tubes tethered together, used to cross natural or man-made gaps which could be dry or wet) and conventional bridging.

DASA is not interested in literature reviews, paper-based studies, consultancy, non-technical solutions or marginal improvements to existing capabilities. This is not a competition and therefore DASA is not asking for costed proposals at this stage. This is a market engagement request for information exercise and DASA doesn't commit to subsequently launch a formal DASA competition.