Gladiator and Spartan Core Systems and Services - PPN

The Ministry of Defence is awarding a five‑year fully managed service contract for the continued support, sustainment and enhancement of the Gladiator and Spartan core systems. This procurement focuses on delivering a high‑fidelity distributed synthetic training capability that links simulators, maritime platforms and tactical data links to create scalable, multi‑domain training scenarios for the Royal Navy and allied Force Elements. The contract includes the development of a central hub that will evolve from the existing Gladiator architecture into a new Maritime Synthetic Training Hub, providing real‑time scenario development, execution and debriefing while integrating new digital assets, terrains and threat representations.

Key deliverables for the contractor encompass system maintenance, capability expansion, platform integration, and cross‑service interoperability, ensuring that the differentiated requirements of the Royal Navy’s Spartan programme are incorporated into the broader defence training environment. The scope is secured with the need for Personal Security Clearances up to SECRET and recognises a high cyber risk profile, obliging strict cyber resilience measures. All systems shall operate within the confines of Defence and Security provisions of the Procurement Act, maintain continuous interoperability across Defence Forces, and support the generation and delivery of training scenarios via tactical data links.

The Gladiator system is a MOD-owned innovative, distributed, synthetic operational training capability that delivers high-fidelity, secure, and cost-effective team and collective training for Force Elements (FE); its agility has also enabled the RAF to use the capability for other modelling and simulation-based activities. It enables training across multiple domains alongside partner nations, and at a scale and complexity not achievable in live environments. By linking simulators to a central hub, Gladiator overcomes real-world constraints such as airspace limitations, costs, environmental factors, and operational security, providing a safe and scalable training solution.
SPARTAN is aiming to leverage the technology, systems and services developed by the Gladiator Programme to build a Distributed Synthetic Training Hub to deliver Maritime Collective Training to RN surface units. This will require systems onboard the operational platforms, but the first step is to develop a Hub that can develop, deliver and debrief training scenarios and synthetic tracks via Tactical Data Links. Initially this will be developed using the existing capabilities of Gladiator, but in time SPARTAN will be developing new digital assets, scenarios, terrains to deliver training scenarios that can represent the complexity, mass and speed of modern threats.
The Gladiator and Spartan Core Systems and Services Contract seeks to deliver:
a. Support, Sustainment and Enhancement of System Capabilities
b. Platform Integration and Capability Development
c. Interoperability Across Defence Forces
d. Incorporation of the Royal Navy SPARTAN Requirements
This tender notice is for the award of a public contract through a competitive flexible procedure in accordance with section 20(1) and (2)(b) of the Procurement Act 2023. It is considered a Defence and Security Contract due to its scope and therefore the relevant provisions of the Procurement Act 2023 relating to defence and security contracts are applicable.
The Gladiator & Spartan Core Systems and Services contract will be initially for 5 years.
This will be a Service Contract (expected Fully Managed Service).
There may be a requirement for additional works outside of the core requirement and a tasking process will be included to cover any additional scope.
Certain information required to deliver the Gladiator & Spartan Service is classified up to and including SECRET (UK or NATO). Suppliers must have the necessary Personal Security Clearances (PSCs). Suppliers that do not hold security clearance would need to obtain by contract award. Further security requirements will be detailed during the tender process as part of the PSQ and subsequent invitation to tender.
The Cyber Risk Profile for this requirement identified by the Cyber Risk Assessment is High (Reference - RAR-250303A03)
It is anticipated that TUPE will apply to this requirement.
A previous Planned procurement notice was published under Notice Reference 2026/S 000-046380

Contract location: UK
Communication: https://www.contracts.mod.uk
Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted: En
Enquiry deadline: 2026-07-21T12:01:00+01:00
Deadline for requests to participate: 2026-08-04T12:01:00+01:00
Submission address and any special instructions: https://www.contracts.mod.uk
Tenders may be submitted electronically: allowed
Award decision date (estimated): 2027-12-17T23:59:59+00:00

Lot number: 1
Lot value (estimated)
50.000.000,00 GBP excluding VAT
60.000.000,00 GBP including VAT
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals: Option to extend the Contract for up to two (2) years in any combination of durations
Information about options. Options: Yes