UK NPSA 2026 C-UAS Evaluation: Market Entry Restricted to TRL 8 Capabilities

Key Facts

• Strict Submission Window: Expressions of interest due by January 30, 2026.
• Market Gatekeeper: NPSA evaluation is now a mandatory prerequisite for UK Home Office procurement.
• Maturity Threshold: Participation restricted to systems at TRL 8 (System Qualified) or higher.

3 minute read

The United Kingdom’s National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) has issued a call for expressions of interest regarding its 2026 independent counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) evaluations. This initiative represents a significant hardening of procurement standards within the UK security architecture. By explicitly linking NPSA evaluation results to Home Office purchasing eligibility, London is moving away from ad-hoc acquisition towards a centralized, evidence-based accreditation model. For European aerospace prime contractors and specialized SMEs, this development signals that the UK market is now closed to developmental systems; only mature, field-proven solutions will be considered.

The evaluation criteria underscore a preference for immediate operational viability over theoretical capability. Eligibility is strictly limited to systems at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 8 or higher—technologies that have been "system complete and qualified." This high threshold is designed to filter out the vaporware that often saturates the C-UAS sector. Successful validation places hardware in the NPSA’s Catalogue of Security Equipment (CSE), a de facto "approved vendor list" utilized not just by the Home Office, but increasingly by operators of Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) across the British Isles. For continental European firms, securing a spot in the CSE is essential for maintaining competitiveness against US and Israeli incumbents in the post-Brexit security landscape.

The operational cadence is accelerated, with a submission deadline set for January 30, 2026. This compressed timeline suggests an urgent operational requirement to refresh current defensive postures against evolving asymmetric threats. Manufacturers will face "operationally informed" testing scenarios designed to replicate complex threat environments rather than sterile laboratory conditions. While the NPSA absorbs the direct costs of the evaluation, the strategic cost of failure—or non-participation—is the effective forfeiture of the UK government and law enforcement market sector for the coming cycle.

Source: UAS Magazine / NPSA