Bridgend headquartered IrvinGQ has been boosted with a £25m contract win to enhance the capability of the Ƶ’s Atlas A400M military aircraft.
IrvinGQ will manufacturer up to 25 of its PRIBAD (platform rigid inflatable aerial delivery) solution, while providing in-service support for up to 10 years.
This will enable Ƶ armed forces to deploy rigid-hulled inflatable boats directly into maritime environments.
The contract will safeguard around 10% of its 250 workforce over the next decade
The PRIBAD system is designed to deploy large rigid-hulled boats ranging from six to 14 metres and weighing up to 12 tonnes, with interchangeable cradles enabling rapid configuration to accommodate all specified payloads.
The project will acquire platforms, associated ancillaries and cover test, evaluation, and integration with both aircraft and boats. The system will enable home and overseas commitments held at extremely high and very-high readiness.
Mark Steer, president at IrvinGQ, said:“Securing this landmark contract is a tremendous achievement for IrvinGQ and a testament to the dedication and expertise of our entire team.
"We are extremely proud to deliver this critical capability to our home nation, supporting the Ƶ MoD with a proven solution that has demonstrated outstanding operational performance.
“Winning this contract not only reinforces our position as a trusted partner to the Ƶ armed forces, but also enables us to pursue new export opportunities and continue driving growth and skilled employment here in South Wales.”
Peter Searle, defence delivery team leader for command support and airborne equipment at the MoD's procurement arm Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) , said: "This contract award realises the aerial delivery of large boats as a significant step increase in the A400M capability, born out of the hard work and diligence of key individuals within DE&S, and in collaboration with external agencies, who have a thorough understanding of this niche area.”
The project is now in its demonstration and manufacture phase with flight trials planned for later this year and early 2026, organised by the Air Test & Evaluation Centre (ATEC), led by QinetiQ and supported by the Air and Space Warfare Centre (ASWC)
The PRIBAD systems will be manufactured and delivered by 2028/29 via multiple tranche deliveries, with training for Air Force and Army crews along with maintainer teams.
IrvinGQ also has sites in Letchworth and Toulouse in France.
