WLT: Weapon Load Trainer

{
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  "date": "2026-01-16T13:56:09Z",
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    "name": "Defence Equipment and Support"
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        "additionalClassifications": [
          {
            "id": "80650000",
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "description": "Training and simulation in aircrafts, missiles and spacecrafts"
          }
        ]
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    ],
    "title": "WLT: Weapon Load Trainer",
    "status": "planning",
    "legalBasis": {
      "id": "2023/54",
      "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents",
      "scheme": "UKPGA"
    },
    "description": "Background:\nA Weapon Load Trainer (WLT) formed part of the original Eurofighter training solution; this was never implemented by the RAF. The initial concept envisaged integrating the RAF Typhoon Weapons Load Training Team with the Weapons Training Team within the Typhoon Training Facility (TTF). The planned concept of operations for a WLT will be for the device to be jointly operated between the TTF and the Weapon Load Training Cell (WLTC). TTF delivers all initial Weapon Load (WL) training, with the WLTC responsible for all WL recertification.\nThe current weapon load training solution requires the transfer of activity from the controlled, purpose-built TTF environment to operational settings. These operational settings are less conducive to initial learning, introduce additional distractions and safety risks, and rely on opportunistic use of maintenance events. Such one-off training opportunities limit practice to mastery and constrain formative and summative assessment against the Required Performance Standard, resulting in repeated, ad hoc exercises to achieve compliance.\nPreparation of Forward Available Fleet (FAF) aircraft for training purposes, and their subsequent recovery to operational configuration, is resource-intensive and increases maintenance burden and potential for repair. Additionally, FAF aircraft are routinely subject to operational commitments, which can disrupt or invalidate planned training.\nRequirement:\nThis requirement outlines the procurement of WLTs for both Main Operating Bases (MOBs), designed to meet Armament Carriage & Installation Systems standards and the broader requirements of the WLTCs.\nThe primary driver for this acquisition is the increasing demand on forward environments to provide training resources, coupled with growing pressure on Typhoon Force training facilities, assets, and resources due to force growth and export training requirements. Procuring one WLT, with an aim to procure a second, will significantly reduce the impact of training on operational environments and the FAF, whilst ensuring a consistent training output aligned with aircraft configurations at both MOBs.\nHigh-fidelity WLT Ground Training Aids will support all initial and re-certification weapon load training. The requirement seeks the procurement of one standalone WLT initially, with the potential for a second WLT subject to affordability. \nAs part of the Typhoon Force disposal strategy, two Tranche 1 Typhoon airframes have been made available for use by the manufacturer in constructing the WLTs, should they choose to do so. This approach offers environmental benefits by reducing the impact of standard aircraft disposal and may also provide efficiencies for the manufacturer. Please note that this will necessitate secure facilities and stringent security measures to safeguard the airframes and associated equipment throughout the process.",
    "specialRegime": [
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  "parties": [
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        "locality": "Bristol",
        "postalCode": "BS34 8JH",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
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      "contactPoint": {
        "name": "Darren Steward",
        "email": "darren.steward105@mod.gov.uk"
      }
    }
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  "language": "en",
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        "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003912-2026",
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        "noticeType": "UK2",
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{
  "id": "067757-2025",
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  "date": "2025-10-23T11:56:35+01:00",
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    "title": "WLT: Weapon Load Trainer",
    "status": "planning",
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      "id": "2023/54",
      "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents",
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    "description": "Background\nA Weapon Load Trainer (WLT) was part of the original Eurofighter training solution. The RAF WLT was cancelled by the RAF/Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) around 2002 to release funding for improved pilot training courseware. An attempt to resurrect the WLT was made by the RAF staffed UK Joint Training Team in 2004, but the attempt failed. Using a ‘live’ aircraft is not without its issues; it is necessary to remove and refit some pylons twice on each course. The aircraft structure and pylons are not designed to meet this continued removal/refit utilisation rate; therefore, an increased component wear and failure rate could be expected which would place an additional demand on the supply chain and aircraft serviceability. The current training solution necessitates the transferral of training from a controlled environment in TTF, which is conducive to learning, to an operational workplace environment, which has many distractions and is less beneficial to initial learning. Using maintenance opportunities to train is fraught with risk and subjects the students and instructors to added pressure and danger; “one off” activities do not provide sufficient opportunity for practice to mastery or formative and summative assessment as necessary to meet the RPS hence, exercises have to be repeated in an inefficient and ad-hoc manner. Considerable time is required to prepare a FAF aircraft for the training role and then to recover it, which in itself can add to the maintenance burden and or repairs. Furthermore and on a regular basis, these FAF aircraft can be subject to official robs that can jeopardise training if it is the subject matter that is required and removed.\nRequirement\nThe Typhoon Training Facility (TTF) at RAF Coningsby and the Weapon Load Training Cells (WLTCs) at both Main Operating Bases (MOB) are responsible for delivering weapons training and re-certification to Typhoon Weapons technicians. TTF delivers the Pre-Employment Training Weapons course which includes on-aircraft practical covering the Armament Control and Installation System (ACIS) and Armament Control System (ACS) testing. Both WLTCs are responsible for all weapon load training and re-certification, which currently is carried out on Forward Available Fleet (FAF) aircraft. This requirement sets out the need for procuring a Weapon Load Trainer (WLT) for both MOBs which is capable of meeting the ACIS training requirement of TTF and the wider training requirements of the WLTCs. The driver for change is the increasing pressure on the forward environment to provide training resources and the increasing pressure on Typhoon Force (TF) training facilities, assets and resources, which Force Growth and the export training demand is driving. The procurement of a WLT will reduce the impact of training on the operational environment and on the FAF. It will also ensure a consistent training output standard aligned to the aircraft fit at both MOB. The acquisition of high fidelity WLT Ground Training Aids (GTA) will facilitate all initial and re-certification weapon load training. This requirement is seeking the procurement of one, possibly two, Weapon Load Trainers with a view to minimising the impact on the operational environment and the FAF, whilst providing a consistent TTF & WLTC output standard aligned to the aircraft fit. The driver for change is the increasing pressure on training facilities, assets and resources, and to minimise the training impact on the FAF.",
    "specialRegime": [
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        "country": "GB",
        "locality": "Bristol",
        "postalCode": "BS34 8JH",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "streetAddress": "MOD Abbey Wood"
      },
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        "dueDate": "2025-10-31T23:59:59+00:00",
        "description": "Through this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice (PMEN), the Ministry of Defence seeks expressions of interest from suitably qualified suppliers. Any interested supplier with the experience, capability and capacity to deliver this service are asked to register their interest by contacting the buyer at the details provided in this notice via DSP only.\nFurther market engagement shall be driven by the level of interest recieved subject to the Authority's decision this will be updated via FTS by the Contracting Authority.\nThis PMEN has been published for the purposes of Market Sounding and to assist in the determination of the procurement strategy. No formal procurement has been launched. This is not a commitment by the UK Ministry of Defence to place a contract or launch a tender in the future."
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    "title": "WLT: Weapon Load Trainer",
    "status": "planning",
    "legalBasis": {
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      "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents",
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    "description": "Background\nA Weapon Load Trainer (WLT) was part of the original Eurofighter training solution. The RAF WLT was cancelled by the RAF/Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) around 2002 to release funding for improved pilot training courseware. An attempt to resurrect the WLT was made by the RAF staffed UK Joint Training Team in 2004, but the attempt failed. Using a ‘live’ aircraft is not without its issues; it is necessary to remove and refit some pylons twice on each course. The aircraft structure and pylons are not designed to meet this continued removal/refit utilisation rate; therefore, an increased component wear and failure rate could be expected which would place an additional demand on the supply chain and aircraft serviceability. The current training solution necessitates the transferral of training from a controlled environment in TTF, which is conducive to learning, to an operational workplace environment, which has many distractions and is less beneficial to initial learning. Using maintenance opportunities to train is fraught with risk and subjects the students and instructors to added pressure and danger; “one off” activities do not provide sufficient opportunity for practice to mastery or formative and summative assessment as necessary to meet the RPS hence, exercises have to be repeated in an inefficient and ad-hoc manner. Considerable time is required to prepare a FAF aircraft for the training role and then to recover it, which in itself can add to the maintenance burden and or repairs. Furthermore and on a regular basis, these FAF aircraft can be subject to official robs that can jeopardise training if it is the subject matter that is required and removed.\nRequirement\nThe Typhoon Training Facility (TTF) at RAF Coningsby and the Weapon Load Training Cells (WLTCs) at both Main Operating Bases (MOB) are responsible for delivering weapons training and re-certification to Typhoon Weapons technicians. TTF delivers the Pre-Employment Training Weapons course which includes on-aircraft practical covering the Armament Control and Installation System (ACIS) and Armament Control System (ACS) testing. Both WLTCs are responsible for all weapon load training and re-certification, which currently is carried out on Forward Available Fleet (FAF) aircraft. This requirement sets out the need for procuring a Weapon Load Trainer (WLT) for both MOBs which is capable of meeting the ACIS training requirement of TTF and the wider training requirements of the WLTCs. The driver for change is the increasing pressure on the forward environment to provide training resources and the increasing pressure on Typhoon Force (TF) training facilities, assets and resources, which Force Growth and the export training demand is driving. The procurement of a WLT will reduce the impact of training on the operational environment and on the FAF. It will also ensure a consistent training output standard aligned to the aircraft fit at both MOB. The acquisition of high fidelity WLT Ground Training Aids (GTA) will facilitate all initial and re-certification weapon load training. This requirement is seeking the procurement of one, possibly two, Weapon Load Trainers with a view to minimising the impact on the operational environment and the FAF, whilst providing a consistent TTF & WLTC output standard aligned to the aircraft fit. The driver for change is the increasing pressure on training facilities, assets and resources, and to minimise the training impact on the FAF.",
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        "description": "Through this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice (PMEN), the Ministry of Defence seeks expressions of interest from suitably qualified suppliers. Any interested supplier with the experience, capability and capacity to deliver this service are asked to register their interest by contacting the buyer at the details provided in this notice via email / DSP.\nFurther market engagement shall be driven by the level of interest recieved subject to the Authority's decision this will be updated via FTS by the Contracting Authority.\nThis PMEN has been published for the purposes of Market Sounding and to assist in the determination of the procurement strategy. No formal procurement has been launched. This is not a commitment by the UK Ministry of Defence to place a contract or launch a tender in the future."
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{
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  "date": "2025-09-09T16:59:11+01:00",
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-05970d",
  "buyer": {
    "id": "GB-PPON-PVRL-5831-GLMM",
    "name": "Defence Equipment and Support"
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    "title": "UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement - WLT: Weapon Load Trainer",
    "status": "planning",
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      "id": "2023/54",
      "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents",
      "scheme": "UKPGA"
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    "description": "Requirement\nThe Typhoon Training Facility (TTF) at RAF Coningsby and the Weapon Load Training\nCells (WLTCs) at both Main Operating Bases (MOB) are responsible for delivering\nweapons training and re-certification to Typhoon Weapons technicians. TTF delivers the\nPre-Employment Training Weapons course which includes on-aircraft practical covering\nthe Armament Control and Installation System (ACIS) and Armament Control System\n(ACS) testing. Both WLTCs are responsible for all weapon load training and re-certification, which currently is carried out on Forward Available Fleet (FAF) aircraft.\nThis proposal sets out the need for procuring a Weapon Load Trainer (WLT)\nfor both MOBs which is capable of meeting the ACIS training requirement of TTF and the\nwider training requirements of the WLTCs. The driver for change is the increasing\npressure on the forward environment to provide training resources and the increasing\npressure on Typhoon Force (TF) training facilities, assets and resources, which Force\nGrowth and the export training demand is driving. The procurement of a WLT will reduce\nthe impact of training on the operational environment and on the FAF. It will also ensure\na consistent training output standard aligned to the aircraft fit at both MOB.\nThe acquisition of high fidelity WLT Ground Training Aids (GTA) will facilitate all initial\nand re-certification weapon load training. This requirement is seeking the procurement of\none, possibly two, Weapon Load Trainers with a view to minimising the impact on the\noperational environment and the FAF, whilst providing a consistent TTF & WLTC output\nstandard aligned to the aircraft fit. The driver for change is the increasing pressure on\ntraining facilities, assets and resources, and to minimise the training impact on the FAF.\nBackground\nA Weapon Load Trainer (WLT) was part of the original Eurofighter training solution.\nThe RAF WLT was cancelled by the RAF/Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) around\n2002 to release funding for improved pilot training courseware. An attempt to resurrect\nthe WLT was made by the RAF staffed UK Joint Training Team in 2004, but the attempt\nfailed.\nUsing a ‘live’ aircraft is not without its issues; it is necessary to remove and refit some\npylons twice on each course. The aircraft structure and pylons are not designed to meet\nthis continued removal/refit utilisation rate; therefore, an increased component wear and\nfailure rate could be expected which would place an additional demand on the supply\nchain and aircraft serviceability.\nThe current training solution necessitates the transferral of training from a controlled\nenvironment in TTF, which is conducive to learning, to an operational workplace\nenvironment, which has many distractions and is less beneficial to initial learning. Using\nmaintenance opportunities to train is fraught with risk and subjects the students and\ninstructors to added pressure and danger; “one off” activities do not provide sufficient\nopportunity for practice to mastery or formative and summative assessment as necessary\nto meet the RPS hence, exercises have to be repeated in an inefficient and ad-hoc\nmanner.\nConsiderable time is required to prepare a FAF aircraft for the training role and then to\nrecover it, which in itself can add to the maintenance burden and or repairs. Furthermore\nand on a regular basis, these FAF aircraft can be subject to official robs that can\njeopardise training if it is the subject matter that is required and removed.",
    "specialRegime": [
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        "country": "GB",
        "locality": "Bristol",
        "postalCode": "BS34 8JH",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
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        "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/055169-2025",
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        "description": "To be decided"
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